Girl Power

Next week I'll be heading to Washington D.C., from lil' ole' Frederick, Colorado, to visit my best girlfriends from college.

When women get together, with no men around, they laugh. They belly laugh. They relax into themselves. They talk for hours to catch up on the important stuff - not sports, or jobs, but men and sex and feelings.

These are the people who accept me flawed, who actually laugh at my jokes, who make me think and bring me back to the reality I often forget (that I need to take care of myself), who challenge my assumptions about the sacrifices I'm making and help me think about what I need. Who are witty and crass and free.

We have a tradition. When S was married, I made a CD, called "Girl Power." Songs from Cyndi Lauper, The Dixie Chicks, Pat Benatar, etc. Then when I got married, C made "Girl Power II." Joni Mitchell, etc. Then when S & C visited last May, C made "Girl Power III." Melissa Etheridge, Pink, Carrie Underwood, etc. So for the DC trip, "Girl Power IV: Love Full Circle." Pink, Shania Twain, Sugarland, Blu Cantrell, etc. Music to last us through the times when we can't laugh together.

Here's a tribute to S & C and all the powerful women in my life, who I notice never crumble under all the crazy shit life throws at them:

Girl power is
going to work when you have breast cancer and showing your bald head and telling coworkers it's not that bad.
caring for your mom and your daughter and your rock-smashing neanderthal husband and trying to hold down a job all at once.
putting on a brave face for your grandson when you know the story won't end well.
building your own blue garden gate out of paint and cedar and willows.
being there for your brother when his child is in the hospital.
staying the strong one and dealing with being a new mom when your parents are splitting up.
pumping breastmilk at work and putting one foot in front of the other at your job when your heart tells you to be at home with your babies.
forgiving your daughter when she treats you horribly, because she is your child and you will always need her and you believe she can be better.
training for a triathlon and being a mother of two.

and for S - eternal generosity and utmost silliness.
and for C - undying loyalty and refusing to type smiley faces on any electronic correspondence.

and for all of us - faith in ourselves.