We call ourselves The Hoity Toitys:

*The names have been changed to protect the guilty.

“May I have your attention, please. The signal tone you have just heard is an emergency alert. Please remain where you are until further notice.”

I knew the weekend would be memorable, but I didn’t see this coming! D and I were at the airport to pick up our fellow revelers, and we were ready to let loose. Wearing our crowns and carrying silly welcome signs, we were hovering around the arrival gate when the alarm started sounding. D felt Homeland Security had been alerted to the two strange ladies wearing sparkling pink crowns. I thought Z and JT had created a ruckus getting their bags out of the overhead bin. Either way, this was an awesome start.

Knowing the craziness my group is capable of, Paul texted me, “What did you DO?!”

It was everything I hoped it would be and MORE.

If you are just joining us, I wrote last time about my upcoming college girlfriends weekend. We have known each other for over 40 years, but this was our first time together in 13 years. I called it the “How the Hell are we turning 60 Weekend.”

THE MYSTERY OF THE TIME CAPSULE REVEALED:When we popped open the Rubbermaid Bin of College Crap, it was a delightful surprise.It turns out that I kept everything. I even had a real, honest to goodness scrapbook (with Snoopy and Woodstock on the cover). Memento from my Senior Year in High School through my college time. My first thoughts:: I was so young, and why did I think I was fat?!?!

Within 10 minutes, my entire condo had the look and feel of a dorm. Suitcases with clothes laying everywhere. Papers, shoes, food, and drink glasses covering all available counter spaces. The modern twist? everyone looking for an outlet to charge mobile devices.

I worried that after the reminiscing and gossiping about the past we might have nothing else to say. Could we relate to each other’s day to day lives? Be at  a loss on how to re-connect? We stay in touch via Facebook and text messaging, but these are not venues where deep, meaningful conversations take place.

I had deliberately planned nothing. If you are doing and going, you are not talking and re-connecting. It was a perfect non-plan plan . Sitting around munching on starbursts, cupcakes, mini Heath bars (dipped in Peanut Butter, thank you Z for that excellent tip),and something called Wicked (thanks JT for introducing this), we had the time to ease into a comfortable familiarity.

This was what I wanted. This was what I needed. Women who not only could be exceptionally silly  (and insanely, hysterically crude ), but share deep and real stories of the lives we were leading now. Concerns over health, both ours and husbands, family members and close friends. Financial issues, early retirement, joys of births and tragedies of deaths, strained family relationships. IT GOT REAL.

And there was no judging. It felt safe and peaceful and honest.

Many special moments. L, whose mother graduated from our college and recently passed away, gave each of us a memento of college from her mother’s estate. JT had wine shipped ahead of the gathering, appropriately called “Sisters Forever”. And so much more.

It reaffirmed our friendship and brought our bond to that next level that, at this stage of our lives, we need to protect and honor.

BUZZ WORDS (These are just for you, my Hoity Toity gang): That’s not a camp word, selfie -stick, Iron Bowl, Butt Poker, two down at the elevator, # ________,

I was reminded of why I was friends with these women from the minute we met till this very minute. Each one is smart, funny, snarky, brave, loving and loyal.

“And, in the end

The love you take

is equal to the love you make.”

–The Beatles, Abbey Road
Love you, mean it!