A video of the women went viral on TikTok amassing over 12 million views
Credit: Lara Schwartz
NEED TO KNOW
- Two lifelong friends, now 53, live across the lake from each other after decades of shared life experiences
- The pair originally met in preschool 50 years ago
- A TikTok video of the friends enjoying their boat ride went viral, amassing over 12 million views
More than 50 years after becoming friends in preschool, two women are living out the kind of future they may have once dreamed about as little girls.
The longtime best friends, both 53, now own homes across the lake from one another, allowing them to continue experiencing life side by side just as they have since childhood.
“My mom’s friend bought her house a couple years ago, and my mom joined her there not too long after. I don’t think it was a set plan per se, but I think all little girls hope and dream to have something similar,” Laura Schwartz, 24, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I believe that the universe knew they were better together and led them to where they are now. I was just very happy for them.”
Credit: Lara Schwartz
The women, who have asked that their names remain private, first became friends after their mothers met while the girls were in preschool. From there, they grew up alongside one another and even vacationed at the same lake where they now live.
Over the decades, their friendship remained a constant as they moved through nearly every stage of life.
“They have been children, teenagers, young adults, wives, mothers, divorcees, empty nesters, and now one of them is even a grandmother. And through it all, they were by each other’s side,” says Schwartz, who lives in Philadelphia and works in news.
Their enduring bond recently captured the attention of millions after Schwartz posted a TikTok video of the friends riding together on their boat. The clip went viral, amassing more than 12 million views and 10,000 comments.
“For those wondering, not a single dime of this was paid for by a man! Not before divorce and not after. That would be all these divas ✨,” Schwartz wrote in the comments.
Schwartz says she filmed the moment while watching the two friends take the boat to dinner together and admiring the lives they had built.
“I’ve always believed that girlhood and the friendships between women are some of the most magic and precious gifts of life, and to see that 50 years later they still have each other and made their dreams come true is just so beautiful,” she says.
“I took the video because I thought they were iconic,” she adds. “The video was genuinely meant for my 10 friends to see, but it just took off so unexpectedly.”
@laraschwartz_
THE dream (and no man in sight)✨ #goals #bestfriend #bestie
♬ original sound – lifecanbebeautiful___
Viewers flooded the comments with messages celebrating the women’s friendship and sharing their hopes of one day experiencing something similar with their own best friends.
“Seeing so many women of all ages in the comments hype them up and admire them has been so heartwarming. It’s really about empowering women, and I’m glad that the people that have seen it have felt empowered,” Schwartz says.
The two friends initially laughed when they learned the video had taken off and enjoyed reading the responses together. Still, Schwartz says the attention has been an adjustment for the otherwise private women.
“They loved reading the comments, and I think it has also served as a reminder that what they have is rare and beautiful,” Schwartz says. “They’re both normal and private people and want to stay that way, so knowing millions of people have seen it is definitely odd,” she says.
@laraschwartz_
Replying to @J Anna using this comment to respond! I will do my best to answer questions!!
♬ original sound – Lara Schwartz
When asked what has kept their friendship strong for more than five decades, the women pointed to knowing they are the one person the other can always call. They say they do not compete and only cheer each other on and accept their similarities and differences. Often, they say they already know what the other is thinking, and can help each other rationalize a situation while also calling each other out when one is wrong. They reassure each other that everything will be okay, always laugh together and share what Schwartz describes as “zero tolerance for BS.”
“I think the number one thing I’ve learned is forgiveness and grace. 50 years of friendship means 50 years of deciding that their bond is bigger and more important than anything,” Schwartz says.
“There have been ups and downs like in any friendship, but they have always wanted what is best for each other and been willing to drop everything to be there for the other,” she continues.
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