Yesterday was my birthday. I’m 56, and very happy to have made it this far, thank you very much. I was sitting on the porch with a bunch of women friends gathered for Zumba and wine (my daughter is an instructor and gave the short, easy class for we – mostly– beginners in the backyard), and one friend looked at the fireweed blooming pink, and the river, inlet and mountains beyond, and said, “It’s so beautiful I can’t believe I live here.” Then she said to me, “I have known most of these women since we were in our twenties. I love that.” She said there is a different, richer relationship between people who have been your friends for decades, since before we put that responsible adult “mask” on, than with friends you meet later. I think that’s true, but I also like having new friends who let you start again, and was pleased for the mix of both.
Another friend of mine says to make friends with younger women so you don’t get too set in your ways. Which confirms that the old Girl Scout song is pretty wise after all– Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other’s gold.
I should have been working at least a little today, but the forecast calls for rain tomorrow, and I got new golf clubs for my birthday, and as the big day reminded me, time is passing– and I am determined to improve at this new sport (no offense to Zumba, but I prefer walking the fairways along the river), so Pearl and I went out to the course and hit a few and lost a few (I mean, why bring a retriever if she won’t dive for balls in the mucky creeks?) but we are both happier for it. I’m going back tonight at 6:00, too, when the new pro is giving free golf lessons for the ladies.
