Deb Came to Visit!

One of my dearest friends in the entire world came to visit!
She is an original Bestie.
A Lifer.
I have known Deb since elementary school. Had way too much fun being her friend through high school. Actually survived living together in an apartment during our early twenties.And we managed to remained friends even when she moved away.
She has been the glue of my foursome friendship with Sheri, Lynn, Deb & I. She is the calm one. The rational one. She is logical, and well, she does have a degree in Psychology and therefore, can make us all maintain and "chillax".

But this year the girlfriend trip was different.

We originally planned to go to Deb's in Tennessee earlier in the year, but that got scratched. Actually, Sher & I couldn't make it, however, Lynn did make the trip south. Sheri also made the trip earlier the year before. I am the only one that has yet to visit Merino Manor. Something always gets in the way. I must make it a priority to visit before the year is up.

We are women in our mid/late forties.
We have issues.
We have drama.
We have life altering experiences going on in our little lives. Something seems to be going on in each of our lives that is pulling and tugging at us. Whereas we should unite and bond stronger, which we always have been able to do, isn't happening this time. There are some things that are weighing heavy in our hearts. That were "off limits" to discuss this time around. That is hard with four women that have always said what they felt and not afraid of the truth. It is hard to explain, and not appropriate for me to discuss. I just feel sadness as I know things will never be the same.

Some times things happen, and no matter how hard you want or try, you can't go back.

So, we did much of our weekend in parts. Deb spent great times with each of us individually. And great times with us together. The together times were as if an elephant was in the room. Safe conversations only we discussed. We laughed, we ate, and we did enjoyed each others company.

...but it just isn't the same.

Wino

My daughters are off to work & play. My husband is off on a business trip. I am about to spend a splendid evening by myself and a bottle of wine.

I am not a big drinker. I am a weenie. One or two glasses will do me. I love Margarita's and I love Kahlua w/ orange juice. My wine choice is White Zinfandel. The kool-aid of wines as a friend once told me. My Lifers drink grown up stuff like Chardonnay & Merlot. Martinis and Grey Goose. I am the wimpy drinker.

Not always the case. I think I drank my quota by the age of 27. Back in the day, it was Jack Daniels, Gin, and Tequila shots. Budweiser, Mooseheads & Tecata's. I could keep up. I toned it down quite a bit since having children.

For tonight, I think I will turn on some Lynryd Skynryd, REO and Areosmith, maybe even a little Molly Hachett, since no one is home. I have a ton of packing up the house and a little wine will help me throw a lot of stuff away.

Cheers!

Forever Friends

Make New Friends,
But keep the Old,
One is Silver,
and the Other is Gold.

This is an old song I learned in Bluebirds. (Yes, while every other girl was a Brownie, then a Girl Scout, I was a Bluebird, then a Camp Fire Girl).

ANYWAY....

I still love this little tune, and still sing it. How true. We all need friends. Keep the old while making the new. Can anyone have too many friends?

I have told you about the Lifers already. I have also mentioned Rich. By now you know that friends are very important to me. I think that I am pretty friendly. I see people as a potential friend before a potential enemy. I see the good before the bad. I am somewhat cautious, but making new friends is wonderful.

The old are slightly more important as the years go by. The friends that have known you through thick and thin. When life is bad as well as good. And they love you just as much.

I was explaining to my daughter about the "real" forever friends. The ones that you can pick up with after years of not seeing each other and carry on a conversation like you just saw them yesterday. The ones that will drop everything to be there for you. I told her that those are the friends to hold close to your heart.

I am very fortunate that I have a handful of wonderful forever friends.

"Mary". I love her to death. She is always in my corner. Her infectious laugh makes me laugh. I have known her since 2nd grade, so that makes more than 40 years of friendship.

"Kimmie". The year we shared in college will bond us forever as dorm sisters. I love that when we do find time to call each other we talk for an hour and still need more time to finish what we were talking about. Kimmie & I have known each other for 19 years.

"Becky". We go back since high school. She was in "Trendz" with me, but a couple of years behind. We dated in the same circles, and I always had a blast with her. We have reconnected so many times over the years. She is truly one of the gutsiest , smartest gals I have ever met. I admire her so much. We met up the other day and it felt like no time had past since we had last. Becky and I share 21 years of friendship.

"Ronnie". Richie's brother. So you know we too go way back. Ronnie dated Becky, and also my sister-in-law. Ronnie & I went off to Vincennes University together, and we looked out for each other and had the most fun. He is also one of Sergio's dearest friends. I love Ron like a brother.
His father and mine were friends when they were in school so I have pretty much known the Seats, my whole life.

"Kim". Although we are not as close as we were years ago, she is another that I love like a sister and pick up where we left off. She is Ronnie & Richie's sister, and we as well have known each other forever. She was always the brave one, and now she is raising three adorable sons. I love hearing how she is and running into her.

"Carolyn". Although Carolyn & I knew each other in high school, she was closer with Sergio & Julie's crowd. We would often run into each other with cookouts and ran into each other over the years, but I really got to know her best working with her at Assist 2 Sell. She is the motherly~sisterly type that will literally give you the shirt off her back. She is the kindest person I have ever met and one of the most generous & funniest. I have shared the joy of watching her through the years as she gained a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and two, soon to be three grandchildren.

There are plenty of others. I love my friends and realize how truly blessed I am.

It is said rare is it when a person finds one good friend in life. God smiles down at me, giving me many to love new and old.

It's US!!!

First I must explain that I am "Giddy" as Sheri would say about the upcoming "Girls Weekend", at the end of June. My "Lifers" and I will get together to share laughs, tears, food & wine, and new memories. We get together yearly, usually we meet somewhere neutral in between Collierville, Tennessee and Indianapolis, Indiana. This year, once again, Deb is flying to us and we will take over Sheri's house (sorry Dan).

This has been a wonderful tradition and I do believe it saves us and renews our friendship. These girls are everything to me & I could not love them more if we shared the same blood.

Flash back to today. I was impatiently trying to get in some Sam's shopping. I kept running into a group of Goldies in my aisle. Every time I turned around these ladies would be in my way. There were three of them. Around 75 -80 years old. This one Goldie said, rather loudly to her friends, "WHAT ABOUT COD? SHOULD WE GET SOME COD?" The other two looked at each other and one roller her eyes. The Goldie said, "I WANT COD..."

That is when it dawned on me..... That is US in another 30 years!!! These gals could be on a Girlfriend Week or Weekend. I started to chuckle. One gal had the cart, looking like, lets get this done gals...just like Deb. Another was the leader, walking ahead, as if she knew what they needed & where it was... just like Sheri. And finally, the last gal had her hands on her hips, standing just like I do.
I took a picture secretly with my cell phone & sent it to Deb.

I hope that we will be having Girls Weekend in thirty years as we do today. We got through our teens, 20's, 30's, and now 40's. Deb with her Merlot, Sheri with her Chardonnay, and me with my White Zinfandel. All alittle different but very much the same.

Belly Laughs

Yesterday I went to see one of my Besties. I am Blessed to live close enough to Sheri that we visit often & talk daily. I stopped by her house after work & had a lovely chat. We talk about everything, the good the bad & the ugly. As I was leaving, we walked toward the door. I had my phone, keys, glasses in hand. Gave Sheri a hug goodbye, then she opened the door... Her large lovable Black Lab, Gabby, came barrelling through at us, as if she thought, I was forgetting to say goodbye to her.

She scared the sh*t out of us! I threw my phone at her, it burst open & Gabby is totally into the excitement. Sheri & I busted into laughs. Not just the, Oh, that was so funny, but, giant belly laughs and we just couldn't stop. Tears in our eyes, Gabby in our embrace. I think all three of us really needed a good heartfelt belly laugh. Gabby, is a maniac puppy that was a true gift from God that reminds us to laugh. I love that Gabby Girl!

Lifers

I have been Blessed with many friends. Throughout my life I have had a variety of friends that are very different as well as very similar. We meet and start friendships for reasons of situations; neighborhood, children's school & friends, work and by chance.

They come and go. Sometimes you pick up again, sometimes you never see each other again. You may outgrow each other. Some will just not have as much in common and move on. And sometimes you just break that friendship trust and bond.

It is a wonderful feeling to run into someone that you hadn't since for a long time & to pick up where you left off. These are the friends that are there with you in thoughts and prayers. They would come for you in an instant if you called.

The best of friends are the "Lifers". I have been Blessed with a couple myself. My Lifers are my lifeline. I can't imagine not having them to confide in, to fall into their arms when I need a hug, or just talk to them on a weekly basis. We see each other through thick & thin. Through weddings, and divorces. Through pregnancies and raising kids. We know more about each other than imaginable. Our husbands and kids would freak if they know how much we share. But we can not imagine not sharing, bouncing off thoughts and information. We are critical of each other but we love and appreciate the honesty. We have know each other forever, and will till we die. At this point, nothing could keep us from being friends.

To my Forever Friends,Sheri & Debbie, My Lifers, I salute you. I thank God for you and look forward to another 35+ years.
BFF