Girls’ Day Out, An Adventure

Have you ever looked up from your work one day and had a certain reality of life hit you?  Sometimes literally, like a slap, where you actually feel something quite physical.  As if life is saying, “Hey, pay attention, I’m showing you a moment so special and you’re about to miss it!”.  Or, it may slip up on you gradually, like a tiger on the hunt, silently creeping through the undergrowth, then suddenly springs on you so unawares that you suck in your breath at the realization of it.  

I’ve had both of these experiences.  Most recently this has happened with my writing partners.   It has brought me unexpected awareness and joy.  

There is the professionalism of teaching and mentoring, the humbling experience of acknowledging that someone knows a whole lot more about a subject than I do, but most valuable is the knowledge that I have linked my life in an inextricable way with people I can trust and call my friends.

Recently, we decided to take a day and explored the area where we were meeting.  We began our outing with a plan, most of which fell apart immediately.  The restaurant we had planned to go to for lunch was closed for vacation.  (You know it’s a great restaurant when they can close for two weeks and not lose clientele!)  Next, we had planned a stop at the local flea market.  Again, it was shut up tight!  

Not to worry!  We are resourceful.  We explored farther than we would have had our plans worked out.  And our reward was an amazing quilt shop with the most delightful owner and a gem store with a proprietor who was more than happy to share his love of rocks.  At one shop, we were entertained by a local resident that was willing to share many of her life experiences with us.  None of us knew her.  But more than the discovery of these great places was the discovery that we had shared interests other than writing.

We all three quilt and love the smell of new fabric!  Collectively, we inhaled the sacred air as we entered the store.  Running our fingers over the variety of cloth was near ecstasy!  At the gem store, we gathered up items like we were at the last hour of a two-for-one garage sale.  We might still be there, exploring, had we not set a time restriction because of other appointments.

During our outing, we discovered many things about the little town where we had our adventure.  It is an old town, filled with unique and beautiful buildings as well as unique and beautiful people.  Just the kind of place that comes to mind when someone says, “small town”.  We’ll be back.

Like the surprise lilies that are in my yard, my experiences of our first girls’ day out surprised me.  One day, there is no sign of them but the next they are in full form. Lovely, graceful, a joy to behold.  Just like my friends.  I look forward to our next adventure.

Do you know people that you suddenly see in a new light and feel you are the better for it?  Friendship is a wonderful thing.  Never take it for granted.  Get out, spend time with those people, in whatever limited capacity you can, and enjoy the gift you have been given.