Girls Talk

One by one we make our way to the restaurant we've chosen to gather in for the evening. We greet each other with hugs, with kisses, with admiration for our outfits/ boots/ hairstyle/ earrings. We order a glass of wine. We exchange gifts - some birthdays have been missed, and some have brought small holiday trinkets for all. We share stories about work (and looking for work); about our children (growing up so fast, how did we become parents of a 17-year-old? A 15-year-old? A 12-year-old? A 10-year-old?); our spouses (love them, love their crazy ways); our holiday plans. We debate the wisdom of the auto industry bailout; we confess our love for "The Amazing Race" and People magazine. We order another glass of wine (after all, we are not driving - this is New York City!). We laugh about how our daughters (and our sons sometimes too) are so label conscious ("She wants Coach and Juicy Couture"), but we are grateful that we can still provide some of what they want, and we are proud that despite our spoiling them they are still compassionate and loving with an awareness of the fact that others are not so fortunate. We talk politics, but refrain from intense debate among this gathering of both liberals and conservatives. We share our favorite authors and recommend books we think each other will enjoy. We talk about the past, we talk about the present, we talk about the future. We eat heartily (fish for everyone else and meat for me!) and we don't skip dessert.

What we also don't do is spend an inordinate amount of time talking about cancer. For three some-odd hours, I am just one participant in the ritual of Girls' Night Out (Holiday Edition), one of six (although it's usually seven - you were missed Patti) and I get to enjoy these amazing women with intriguing life stories, astonishing strength, bold ideas, unique perspectives and wonderful senses of humor. I am by turns melancholy (what will these nights be like when I am no longer there?) and uplifted (how fulfilling to have friendships such as these), looking forward to our next get-together, and hoping there will be many more.

Patty, Mary, Jackie, Elisa and Mary - you rock! Thanks for a GREAT evening.