A Friend Indeed

♪♫  When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand  ♪♫
and nothing, whoa, nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there
to brighten up even your darkest nights.
♪
You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call

and I'll be there, yeah, yeah,
♪♫  you've got a friend.  ♪♫

- Carole King

Just got back from spending a weekend away with a very close girlfriend. Someone that's meant a lot to me for a very long time.

No, we didn't jet off to an exotic location. No, we didn't head off to party-city. No, we didn't sail away to a distant horizon.

It was better than that!

We don't get to see each other much. Living 2 hours away from each other tends to get in the way. Email, texting and facebook keeps us connected. (Seriously - A big WHOOP! for modern technology.)

However....every now and then girlfriends just got to get together...in person!

So...a plan was hatched...


We met up at a conference for a hobby we share. Two ladies from a group she belongs to sponsored the conference. Didn't think we'd get to spend much time together. Figured she'd be super busy helping them. And I didn't want to get in the way. Maybe I'd just offer to help so we could at least see each other in passing.

Wrong. She made it a point to dedicate the weekend to not only our shared hobby but to our friendship.

Us - Top Priority! What a concept!

We've both been super stressed and dealing with a lot at home and with our families. We really looked forward to putting it all out of our minds for a few days and nurture our friendship. It's important to us. And really really life (aka sanity) saving. (Highly recommend it!)

I knew from past experience that even if our planned getaway was a total catastrophe, it would still be worth it. (Dearest reader, some day I'll have to regale you with the horror of a previous jaunt - let's just say it has to do with...planes, canes, and American Idol! Curious? Well, let's just say it has cultivated our use for the catch phrase..."silver linings"!)

Okay, now back to the subject at hand...

The conference was held at a university in northern New Hampshire. Beautiful. Mountainous. Quiet. Warm, sunny days. Cool, star-lit nights.

We shared a dorm room and sat up half the night chatting. Mornings were spent giggling and organizing as we adjusted to the life of a quasi-college-student...communal bathrooms? oh my! what a new experience (this college educated gal had never lived on campus!). Got to shower, dress and make it to breakfast in the next building on time!

We also enjoyed the company of 25 other ladies from all over the United States. Women of all ages and backgrounds bonding over a mutual interest. Amidst the information filled workshops, there was time for fun. Games like Family Feud, Bingo, Corn Hole (google it) and even a scavenger hunt! Movie night. Pizza party. Smores over a bonfire.

So many smiles, so much laughter.

So good for the soul.

Thank you, chica. For always being there for me. For valuing our friendship. And just for being the incredible woman you are.

I can't wait for our next "date"! But in the meantime, I'll "see" you online!