Last Tuesday, a friend asked me if I could help her pick out new frames for her glasses and then we had a long sushi lunch. I had to work my tail off before and after our date to stay caught up on life, but it was so worth it.
My first reaction to her text when she invited me was, I shouldn't, I have so much to do. I quickly changed my mind after taking a mental note of the last time I spent the afternoon with a friend. It had been too long.
That evening, while my kids were with their father, I joined more friends for a spin class, then met another high school friend out for a glass of wine. On the drive home, I felt like I was wrapped in a warm blanket and no, it wasn't my glass of sauvignon blanc.
I realized I hadn't felt that refreshed in a while
The last time I had that much time with girlfriends had been a year ago, when I escaped for the weekend with my best friend to the hills of Vermont.
I felt the same way after those 48 hours with her: relaxed, less stressed, and like the little things that wound me up seemed so insignificant.
These days, I know our schedules are packed. There are times it takes several text messages just to coordinate a meeting for a quick drink or a bite. But I know that when I need some girl time, it's worth the effort of shuffling things around.
My female friendships are priceless. They have carried me through my high school, college, getting married, having kids, my divorce, and now my years navigating my way through single motherhood.
They have been the constant in my life. The one thing I can count on to lift me up, no matter how low I've fallen. I'm so thankful to have these gifts of time and friendship in my life.
I wish my friends and I could get more of each other
I wish we could blow off work on a random Wednesday and go shopping. I'd give anything to sit and eat gelato for two hours on a Saturday afternoon and decompress.
Every time I see them, I kick myself for not taking the time to put more work into the friendship and carve out more time for them. I swear I will do better, they swear they will do better. Then, life picks us up and carries us away like a rip tide, and weeks go by.
It's OK, though
This is life as a grown woman with kids, who works and runs a household. And you know, maybe that's why our time together is so magical. Because we do have to plot and plan. When we come together, it really does feel like a precious escape and it's definitely better than any therapy session.
I just know I want more of them in my life. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to bust into our group text and make a plan to reconnect with my girls.
