There’s nothing like a best buddy — or a few best buds. There was also nothing like the combination of best friends and the iconic bridge that was a leftover statue or cement billboard of sorts from the McCarter estate in Rumson.

So, to pay tribute to both buds and the bridge, the Retro Pic(s) of the Day offers a glimpse of both in milestone moments of friends paying homage to one another by painting the bridge way back in time.

The painting in these shots were messages to buddies to let them know they were special enough to risk limb, espadrilles and the long arm of the law catching them not only painting, but posing for a pic of their homage artwork.

The featured shot is of this editor’s best friends perched atop the bridge in ode to their buddy’s RFH Class of ’78 Senior Variety Show finale rendition of the then-popular What I Did for Love from Broadway’s A Chorus Line — “Kiss today goodbye” … 

It was close to graduation time and the sentimentality was setting in for buddies who would be separated by miles and college choices, but not hearts. Not ever.

This is the stuff you just never forget. As the song goes, “Won’t forget, can’t regret what I did for love.” No forgetting. No regrets. Ever. Not with besties in your hometown and heart. Though, one is no longer with us, she is never forgotten. RIP, Steph. Thank you — for all the laughs, the risks and the love.

The other pic is of a bunch of buddies paying ode to a pal’s 18th. The pic was sent to us a while ago, so we can’t recount its history. Anyone?

The bridge and buddies. Who needs anything else?

Did your RFH pals ever paint the bridge with a message for you? Nothing quite like it.

— Elaine Van Develde