Lunch with the Ladies and a Boy

     We have all waited for what seems like forever for summer.  Summer means ice pops, sunny days AND a certain friend of ours comes back into our lives.   Tina is a teacher...and a mom...and a newlywed...and a grad student...oh, and she is pregnant.  She has been a tad bit busy and we let her slide for most of the year but we start making demands as soon as we hear that school is out.  Now you would think that knowing she has such a demanding life on top of the fact that she's pregnant means we would spoil her a bit...but no, today she spoiled us. 
     I jumped at the chance to spend some time catching up so I offered to do anything.  She treated us to a wonderful afternoon.  The girls (Jenne and Greta, Tina, Emily and myself) chatted while Ethan completely accepted that he was the lone boy of the group.  We had sandwiches and fruit, olives and cheese.  I had lots of lettuce.  My friends were very helpful and concerned about my points...and we giggled as I chomped on crisp romaine.   We sat on a swing and made fun of ourselves.  We watched the kids play with hoola hoops and bubbles.  We listened to stories we all had to tell.  We laughed about goofy stuff and sympathized about the hard parts of life.  The conversation went from death to parenting and everything in between. 
    While sipping tea and chomping on grapes we caught up, reviewed and planned.  We spoke about the past and looked at the future.  We took the time to just be with one another...something not always so easy lately.  There was a moment when I realized that we have been doing this for quite some time now.  We are all grown up and yet whenever I spend time with my girls I always seem to feel my youngest.  We can be silly.  We can be serious.  We are cheerleaders for one another.  We are Virgos who remind each other that is ok to be imperfect. 
     We can probably count on one hand the amount of times we have gotten together like this.  We have never done it with our dear Tina preparing for a new baby.  We couldn't help but make all of those annoying noises that women can make when they are excited.  We might've even rubbed her belly a bit...which she lovingly allowed.  We missed the last baby days all of those years ago and there is something so special about the chance to live it with her this time.  So much so that we have agreed to go to not one but two showers...lol.  Tina, you are only getting one gift...I don't care how many you invite us to!
     So to my "sisters" and fellow Virgo mamas...thank you for a wonderful afternoon full of intelligent conversation, immature giggles and everything else that we stirred up.  I hope it is the first of many.  Life is too short to be too busy to make time.  Love you guys!