Girlfriends, Weekends, Wine, Laughter

Another year and another retreat with my girlfriends this long weekend.  It’s surprising to learn how many other women have these weekends with their friends but as I am reading “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man” by Steve Harvey I realize that it’s essential for women to get some sort of conversation and understanding from their friends because it doesn’t seem to happen for them with their husbands!  One of the funniest stories he tells in the book is the difference between a girlfriend commiserating with his wife about another woman wearing the same blouse as her.  The saga goes on for half an hour; the husband gives a one-liner “Too bad, don’t wear it again.”  I burst out laughing on the train.

          I enjoy getting away with friends for the sheer fun of it.  We just laugh all weekend long, from the time we get into the car until we return 4 days later!  We never run out of things to talk about and there are no awkward silences.  Occasionally we will have a little breather where we simply lay in the lawn chairs and regard the spectacular view from the balcony, sigh and then say “it’s gorgeous here”. 

We’ve had fabulous summer weather the last few days here in Alberta but our retreat is timely as the threat of snow returns tomorrow.  Only in southern Alberta do you get these incredible swings in the weather!  It’s such a contrast to drive through the snowy mountains and suddenly find yourself in the valley where magnolias, rhododendrons (try spelling that one) and plain old tulips are blooming in profusion.  We sigh, we hopefully shop for plants that will survive our more brutal climate and we drink some wine.  

          Meanwhile Mom gets a reprieve from me and will get to sleep in every morning and not have to be at my beck and call.  Yes, I’m giving her the weekend off.