My thoughts on a page.

What gets you through the ups and downs of life?
Is it faith?
Is it inbred resillience?
Is it time?
Or is it friends?

I sometimes wonder this,
especially when I see others facing trials.
For myself I think there is inbred resilience,
but mostly I believe,
that it was friendship which has always pulled me through.

At the lowest times in my life,
I have had the good fortune,
to have exceptional friends.

When my Dad was dying,
they held me up,
and shared my sadness.
They flocked around me when he died,
and had the patience to tolerate my grief.

Tomorrow I will be married twenty three years,
to my very best friend.
He has to tolerate me regardless.
And he has certainly done that.
He was there to hold and comfort me,
when days were dark.
To share in the laughter,
of great moments of joy,
and to kick my ass when required!

Also within my life I am so very lucky,
to have two distinct groups of friends,
without whom I cannot imagine what life would be like.
There is something very special,
about the friendship of a gang of girls.

Today myself and one of these gangs,
will head away as we do regularly,
for just one night.
We will leave at lunchtime,
travel not too far,
but far enough,
and will enjoy a great laugh.

From the moment we leave,
we begin to change.
We leave behind family, husbands and responsibilities,
and become ourselves.

We load up the car with all we need,
an overnight bag,
a bottle of milk.. for tea,
and a few bottles of wine.. for after tea!

Time will become irrelevant.
We may arrive and feel a bit thirsty,
hence the tea, (wink wink!),
we will eat when we feel hungry later,
usually arriving just before the restaurant stops serving.
Then we will enjoy some time in the bar,
and maybe even provide them with some free entertainment,
especially if they have a mike handy!
We will then take our party back to our room,
(just ourselves which is party enough)
and will fall sleep when we feel like it.
The trip lasts all of twenty four hours,
but every minute counts.

So I may be a bit quiet today,
as I do not think the trip is suitable,
for you to come along with me.
Just know that I will be back.
This is just one of those things I must do,
in order to ensure,
the health of this friendship surviving.
Make no mistake,
as I have assured my husband,
it is not something I will enjoy!

photo credit: Billie Hara via photopin cc
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