Fierce lady friendships. We each deserve to have them. Every February, I go away for a long weekend with my college besties. No kids, no spouses – just us. Our girls trip has never actually coincided with February 13th, but since we meet up in February I always think of it as a Galentine’s Getaway. And yes, we bring gifts! There’s something about celebrating our love for one another that takes us back to our Freshman year at The University of Michigan when we had no clue about the reality of adulthood that makes the weekend extra special.
The College Years
There are four of us – Sarah, Portia, April and I. There used to be 5, but that’s a story for another day. Portia and I became fast friends when we were debutant sisters our Senior year of high school. And April and I kind of knew one another from cheerleading – our high schools played one another. But, the four of us met our Freshman year, bonded because some dumb girls tried to besmirch us and we have been friends ever since.
So much more than book learning happens in college. It’s a wonder any of us graduate and go on to be productive members of society! The parties, the relationships, the road trips, Spring Break, the breakups, roommates … our fierce lady friendships began our first year of college and became solidified as we lived and experienced life together on campus in Ann Arbor. Despite all of that goes on in college, the four of us graduated on time.
Our commencement speaker, Lawrence Kasdan, a fellow UM grad, writer-director of The Big Chill (and The Empire Strikes Back), gave us some sage advice about friendship. I don’t remember much of what he said, I doubt any of us do, but the one thing I do recall is that he told us that the people to our left and right were going to be the people we would rely on for the rest of our lives. His words are like an ear worm for me.
(FYI – For the uninitiated, The Big Chill is a movie about a group of seven former college friends gather for a weekend reunion at a South Carolina vacation home after the funeral of another of their college friends)
Friendship Post College
The four of us have been with one another through the highs and lows – graduate school, job angst, we’re godparents to one another’s children, we’ve been to weddings, child birth, divorces and the loss of parents. Point in fact, all 3 of my besties have been extremely supportive of Effie’s Paper in ways I couldn’t have even imagined. Love your tribe hard ladies! And do what you can to show up for one another. There’s nothing like having a strong group text chain, but it’s also important to nourish your individual relationships. Fierce lady friendships are a real thing.
But, we didn’t go away last year because, well the concern about Covid was beginning to swirl and we figured we’d just get together later in the year. And now here we are a full year later and not much has changed. I have high hopes for 2022! So, I’m over here planning away – thinking about places to go, restaurants to check out, spa appointments, and the like! Fingers crossed. But, I have no doubt that our fierce lady friendships will prevail and prove to be stronger than even the coronavirus.
Stylishly yours,
Kalyn
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