“Make new friends but keep the old. Those are silver; these are gold.” -Joseph Parry
I’ve known these ladies since I was a young mom towing around a toddler and a newborn. At twenty-five, I knew next to nothing about being a mom. There was no ‘mommy group’ back then, no internet, and the only book I had on parenting was Dr. Benjamins Spock’s book The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care 5th Edition (1985) I was a naïve mom of two trying to wing it while Marc worked ridiculously long hours seven days a week. I knew my three-year-old son needed some socializing and I began to look into a pre-school for him, and me, to make new friends.
That was twenty-five years ago, and enrolling Eric in that pre-school was one of the best parenting decisions I made. It’s where I met a couple of women who would take me under their wing and teach me how to fly. While Eric’s social skills improved, so did mine. Eric was invited to play dates, and so was I. My new girlfriends began introducing me to their friends and family, and it wasn’t long until I felt I was no longer the new friend but one of the gang. They invited me to parties, weddings, and annually we’d go on a girls weekend getaway and laugh harder than I ever thought possible and bonded tighter than I ever dreamed imaginable. My daughter wanted in on this fun and so we’d include Jena whenever possible. Then in 2006, they inducted my little girl Jena into our self-proclaimed ‘Ya-Ya Sisterhood’ complete with a hat and afternoon tea. A memory I cherish deeply.
On the worst day of my life, and subsequent weeks, months, and years later they were there for me too. They carried me when I couldn’t see the next step. As the saying goes, a friend in need is a friend indeed, and long-time friends know exactly what you need. They never ask, they just do. They don’t call; they just show up. They don’t sugar coat things; they just give it to you straight. Trust me; you can never meet an old friend. Nope. It’s years of cultivation of trust over trials, tribulations, and triumphs. It’s like being wrapped in the softest blanket while the drinking best wine combined with watching your favorite movie on a rainy night.
Yup, that’s my Ya-Yas.
Life changes, kids get married, and grandchildren (lots of them) bless our lives. I don’t get to see them nearly as much as I’d like to but when we do, it’s like time never passed. These ladies are home to me.
Last night we saw a fun movie.
Last night we had a great dinner.
The absolute best part of the night was the laughter, the tears, and the love wrapped around us. Friends make your heart survive that rollercoaster ride of life with love and laughter. Cheers to all the ‘old’ friends out there, you’re worth your weight in gold!
Leave a Reply