Friends. A true friend is priceless. I am not an extrovert or life of the party by any means. But I do value my friends deeply. It’s been 4 years since I moved away from these girls. In that time we’ve scattered across the country and in some cases across the globe. From Singapore, to Ireland, to Australia, to Boston, to Austin, to Seattle, to St. George, to Los Angeles, to Santa Clarita and back. We all managed to meet up in Oxnard for the weekend. We keep in touch. But not daily or even monthly (except for those still lucky enough to live by each other). We are all so different. We have a PhD in history, a photographer, a film editor, a masters in women’s studies, extroverts, introverts, readers, runners, 2 kids, 5 kids….Some I know better than others. But as one girl put it that weekend, I would be equally thrilled to room with or sit at dinner by any one of them. We didn’t come with a plan, but it ended up being an unforgettable and soul filling weekend.
Some of us went boogie boarding. I am the most experienced boogie boarder in the group and I am ready to wow everyone with my skills. The first wave was not a problem. I rode it effortlessly into shore.
We decide to be brave and catch the waves before they break. Usually I am all about riding the white water in. Why risk a wave crashing on your head when you can easily catch it after all the crashing is complete.
The waves are getting bigger. We get ready to catch one, but I chicken out and ditch my board. Diving down so I don’t even feel the current as the wave moves over my head. Everyone else rides it all the way in. Being the most experienced boogie boarder does not mean I am the best and definitely not the bravest.
There was an afternoon of beach chatting.
And two nights of giggling and talking way too late.
We decided who would be rooming with whom by drawing names. It is one of my favorite parts of a girls trip. The excitement… you never know who you are going to get. This time I ended up with Lindsay. Which I was thrilled about. She’s been in Australia and Singapore and we haven’t managed to be in the same place at the same time in three years…
A morning of successful outlet shopping. And dinner at sunset on the patio. We celebrated that beautiful lady on the far end of the table. She just graduated with her PhD.
Nat – gearing up to go back to Boston.
Heading home. 10 ladies, 4 babies and a house on the beach. Between us all we have 32 kids. I can’t wait until we are 80 and can count again then.
Until next year…..