I Can’t Wait For Our Girls’ Weekend!

In less than a month we will be together. We are hometown friends and we are forever friends, yet some of us haven’t been together for decades. A lot has happened. We’ve had families and careers. We look different from we used to and honestly must BE a little different after all of these years. We grew up together, shared many milestone “firsts” and have kept secrets we’ll never tell. We closely shared the first 20 years (or more!) of our lives and understand each other’s past. We are childhood friends, classmates – BFFs. I am thankful to have these girls women in my life.

So is getting together going to feel like no time has passed at all? Hard to believe in our situation, but that’s what people say about lifelong friends. We are about to find out – we’re having a girls’ weekend in Islamorada. Five friends from the Class of ’76 – Bicentennial Seniors. Our friendships have lasted our lifetime.

I have wanted to do this for years. I live in Paradise – who wouldn’t want to gather here? But for years that want got overshadowed with life. We were busy with the demands of growing families and careers. We barely had time for ourselves. Turning 60 gave us a renewed appreciation of all we are thankful for in our lives. We are finally gathering. We are going to spend five days and four nights together.

We grew up in Woonsocket, South Dakota – population less than 1000. No stop lights and certainly a more forgiving world than the one we live in today. Three lived in town and two of us are farmer’s daughters. We’ve lost touch with one of the girls in the photo – her family moved away long before social media allowed us to stay connected. Our graduating class was 33 people and thanks to family and social media, I can tell you where most of them are today. We haven’t had a class reunion for 20 years (I missed that one) and by the way, I think Facebook has ruined class reunions. We know what people look like and what they’re doing. And there’s that life-getting-in-the-way thing, too. It just never happened.

I am excited to see them and thrilled that somebody who knows that part of my life will be close to me again. I’m looking forward to remembering things that I can’t seem to recall on my own and am pulling out pictures and yearbooks to help our memories. I’ve lived 2000 miles away from what I used to consider “home” for almost 35 years. Memories fade faster when you‘re away from the familiar settings. At least that’s my excuse.

Stay tuned to hear how the long weekend goes. We may have some what-happens-in-the-Keys-stays-in-the-Keys moments. (In that case I guess you won’t hear!) There will probably be a road trip to Key West and we will undoubtedly watch the sunset from our boat in the bay. We will drink wine and eat delicious food. My porch is ready for us to sit and talk until we can’t stay up any longer. I am ready for this. It is long overdue. I expect a couple of surprises and maybe even some tears along with the laughter and fun. It’s all part of friendship and having a history together. I can’t wait. 💗