As I set out for university 28 years ago I had no idea that I would meet the most incredible women. While I thought about the classes that I would be taking, and yes the parties, as a teenager I did not foresee what would be the most meaningful experience of my days at Trent University; forming life long friendships. Together we grew from teenagers into women. Over the course of 3 years we went from carefree teenagers cramming together for tests, and supporting one another to get that paper in on time (which no doubt was neglected because of the nights that we shared together at the pubs or the "purple Jesus" parties), to women with goals. As graduation neared, and each of us having dreams that would take us on very different journeys, we did not know at that time what we know today; that despite what path we took one thing would remain constant - our love for one another.
Over the course of 28 years we have shared great joy together and weathered many storms together. As friends we have been there to laugh so hard together that a few of us have peed our pants (one's body is never quite the same after childbirth), have provided words of support to one another when needed, and yes even wiped away tears. We have come to know one another like no one else knows us because of the history that we share, and we still deeply love one another anyways.
While we have shared great happiness together, it is through the storms of life that we learned that we can always count on one another for love and support, without judgement. A true gift. Many years ago when we all dressed up as hula dancers, with skirts made of of garbage bags, we danced the night away together having no idea at that time that we would hold each others' hands through life for the next 28 years, but that is indeed what has happened.
While our lives have at times not permitted us to spend as much time together as we would like, time is not a barrier to our special friendship. No matter how many weeks or months may pass between when we can see or talk to one another, it does not matter as when we reconnect all time is erased. That only happens between dear friends who have craddled one anothers' hearts for so many years through the rainbows and storms of life.
This past summer we had the great joy of spending 2 weeks together here in Florence as I begin a new chapter in my life. While we know our friendship will be different in that I am not going to be an hour away from them, my friends being who they are were excited to celerate and share in where my journey has taken me.
While we now have children that are as old as we were when we first met, and we have careers that keep us busy, for a moment in time we stepped away from our responsibilities and just enjoyed being together. While we did not make hula skirts out of garbage bags, there was a night where we did find ourselves out on the streets of Florence (some of us in our pajamas) once again laughing like we did as teenagers without a care about what others thought. As we drove through the hills of tuscany, swam in the sea and ate together on the terrace we did what only cherished friends can do; thought out loud about the small and big things in life, without worry about what one another would think. It is only with true friends that you dare to share your thoughts. Although we did at times break into a sweat when Joanne would proclaim, "I have a question". Joanne's thinking goes to places that none of us have gone, but because of our bond we knew we were safe in answering honestly.
Over the course of 28 years we have created many cherished memories together. As we shed tears saying good-bye to one another after making so many wonderful new memories together, we took comfort in knowing that while we have taken different journeys on our quest to grow as individuals we have not, and never will, grow apart. I think on the 40th anniversary of our friendship we should once again don hula skirts made out of garbage bags, but instead of toasting exams being over we need to toast the precious gift that we have given one another that truly is priceless; our friendship. I say 40 years because I know with confidence that we will still be the best of friends then.
