In one of my favourite books, Tuesdays with Morrie (if you haven’t read it – do yourself a favour and put it on your list or your bedside table!) Ted Koppel is interviewing Morrie. He asks Morrie (who is losing his speech) how he and his friend Maurie Stein (who is deaf) communicate. Morrie answers that they will hold hands; after thirty-five years of friendship, they do not need speech or hearing to communicate with one another.

I always think of my sister when I read this and know when we’re old women that will be us – we have always held hands and the gentlest of squeezes can say so much. I tend to think we’ll find some way to talk though, because we always have so much to say to each other. Heaven help whoever is looking after us when we’re gibbering old bats – sorry Love Bug!

I’m also reminded of Morrie and his friend when I watch Bubba with the dogs, particularly when she seeks a paw at night to hold or stroke while having her bedtime bottle. It’s such an amazing bond we have with animals, and if you’re fortunate enough to have fur family, it starts when we’re so young. If you’re really lucky, like Bubba and like Morrie, you’ll have friends with whom you have no need for speech or hearing.

Friendships that don’t need words to sustain them are the best kind.