A couple of times a year a group from work gets together just to drink, eat and laugh – tonight was such an event and I reflected on my drive home how important these friends are to me – not just as co-workers but as friends I’d want to see even if we didn’t work together. Our hostess has recently gotten engaged after being divorced for 22 years and vowing NEVER to remarry – then she met a wonderful man almost a year ago, they are now happily settled in his home, she’s rented her home and they are planning a wedding for late spring.
Another friend said good-by to her husband recently as he left for another tour of Iraq – he reached foreign soil 3 days ago and already she’s counting down until he returns. Still another checked online today and found out her divorce was final 2 days ago – I never know if I should clap or cry at those announcements but she was happy to we toasted her new singleness. Another is separated and discovering the fun of match.com.
I took a large batch of my skinny frozen margaritas (recipe available upon request), our hostess cooked chicken breasts and brats and others rounded out the meal with snacks and salads followed with French silk pie. By time we got to dessert I felt like Large Marge’s big sister and had to pass. I had to laugh because as we all stuffed our faces we were simultaneously talking about how much weight we wanted to lose – starting at 5 pounds and going up. For a group of intelligent women we certainly weren’t matching our actions with our words – but we had a great time and that’s what’s most important.
Tomorrow is Friday and this 4-day week seems to have gone on for at least a month. I’m ready for the weekend and clear skies so I can ride my bike on Saturday.
