In Praise of “The Girls”

I couldn’t survive without ’em! My girlfriends. My husband is my soul mate, and yet I do not care to inflict upon him detailed conversations about HRT, designer-shoe discount sales, gender-related business challenges, gossip, health/balance strategies and the latest miracle face cream.

Before I grew up and got married, most of my friends were guys. Since I was the oldest and only girl out of three, and somewhat of a tomboy, it was a comfortable fit. Now my dear women friends save me. They make me laugh and inspire me to take better care of myself – my health, my business, my marriage, my kids and my spirit.

Meg and I once even crashed a wedding. But today we talked about her desperate search for the right hormone replacement (she’s now using imbedded pellets). We recalled the many months she spent taking handfuls of bioidenticals to combat everything from hot flashes to low libido. I said, “So many moans over the hormones.” She responded in her Meg-like way, “More like a lack of moans.”

Then there’s Sara, who still has blisters to prove that she took part in the three-day *** cancer walk (PINK sponsored her group by providing T-shirts). Before our PINK event in Boston, Sara, who has the best taste ever, went to Ann Taylor an hour before I got there and picked out three fantastic outfits for me to wear – something I could never have done on my own.

Whenever Danica and I talk, usually between meetings, we converse so rapidly that we would convince anyone listening that we take crack! In a whirl of words, we solve all of our own problems and some of the world’s – in just a few minutes.

Most often when I laugh, I’m with my girlfriends. Lea helps me sort out editorial as well as personal conundrums and makes me laugh – just because she does. My heart sings when I see her. Without Saye I would have missed many a parent-teacher conference – and, yes, those tacky (but soft!) socks she gave me for Halloween. Eleanor makes me laugh too; yesterday she had to cancel lunch due to being stitched up on her chin after “falling up the stairs.”

Liz introduces me to friends who improve my life and my business and broaden my worldview; and she shares much wisdom as I navigate the vicissitudes that come with having a teenager. Maria takes me on adventures by sharing photos of her recent trips to Paris and Venice to collect paintings for her gallery. Denise, a spiritual life coach, keeps me grounded and soulful as she describes her experiences at spiritual retreats and weddings she has conducted. June, my psychologist friend, called to say she was exhausted – with her growing practice and growing adopted son. In doing so, she gave me permission to admit that I was exhausted too.

We get to share challenges and defeat, triumphs and embarrassments. It’s a lot like Sex and the City, only better – and with a bit less alcohol.

Each of my dear girlfriends enriches my life and makes me grateful to be in her orbit – and grateful to be alive. And each makes me feel that I’m not alone on this crazy journey.

By Cynthia Good