Recently I saw a postcard on Post Secret that made me really sad. Someone had written that she wished she had enough friends to give her a wedding shower. My heart broke for her. I thought of all the times in my life that my girlfriends and I have celebrated happy occasions together–graduations, marriages, births, kids’ accomplishments, new jobs, promotions, even dumping the wrong guy–or sustained each other through the loss of friends, family members, animals, jobs–and being dumped by the one we thought was Mr. Right.
Nora, Vicki, Amy, and I all started work at roughly the same time for the same company in 1992. By 1996, two of us had been laid off, one of us resigned, and one of us continued working with a group that splintered off and formed their own company. We worked together only four years; we haven’t worked together for eleven, yet here we are, a couple of weeks ago, at the baby shower Vicki gave for Nora, who’s expecting not just her first child, but her first TWO children–twin daughters–in January. And Amy is expecting son number three in December.
Nora, Vicki, Amy, me
I love these women. There were times that I honestly don’t think I could’ve kept going without them. We have laughed and cried and bitched together. We have watched one another make mistakes and falter. We have seen one another make good choices and persevere. We have had so many wonderful things to celebrate. I cherish all my friends, women and men, and can’t imagine how desolate my life would be without them.
So my heart really hurt for the woman who sent in the postcard. Then someone responded on the Post Secret site and said, “I’ll give you a shower.” And someone else responded and said, “I’ll come!” And suddenly all over the Internet, people were reaching out to her, wondering where she lived, promising to help make her wedding a celebration. I hope she saw all those responses. Even if she isn’t able to meet those strangers or allow them to show her kindness, I hope their reactions embolden her to reach out to women who are around her, to learn to be a friend to them and to be graced in turn by their friendship.
Good thing you all found each other and hung on. That’s a happy, pretty photo.
Friendship is the most important thing in my life. So much so I have the Japanese symbol for it tattooed on my arse! :o)
I know what you mean about friends.
Sometimes, people do still surprise me with their kindness. Even when the world seems so dark, there is always a light.
Holy cow, I had no idea Nora and Amy were pregnant… Mad contrats to them! That rules! And I love this photo.
You’re pretty cool, Cochrane; and I’m glad we get to know you. 🙂