Girl Friends

One of my earliest memories is having a neighborhood girl, who came to the door and asked to play. My mother let her in, a little four year old girl with long dark brown hair and shaggy bangs. She had a small red patent leather purse; she pulled out a card and handed it to my mother. “That is the time I have to be home!” Nancy said. We had the first of many tea parties that day. I met my first friend.

Friends bring meaning to our lives. They accept us, encourage us and at times challenge us to be better. Girlfriends are that extra special friend, for they know you, the part that makes you giggle. It really doesn’t matter how old you become, there is really nothing like a good laugh with a girlfriend. It has been said that laughter is the best medicine; I believe this to be true. 

Geri had arranged for a group of grade school and high school classmates to meet up on Friday night. I was so excited to see Geri, Theresa and Tina sitting in the restaurant booth when I walked in; it had been over 20 years since we had seen each other. Your human existence is validated with old friends. I believe there is just something about the depth of years that the soul understands. 

We were fortunate that six grown women, that had attended the same grade school and high school, were able to meet and reconnect again. In a city the size of Phoenix, I don’t know many people, that have attended school for twelve years together. We were the lucky ones. 

The lucky ones attended schools along the 202 freeway located between Tempe and downtown Phoenix. We went to Balsz Elementary School which you can see as you drive along the 202; it sits just north of the freeway at 44^th Street. You actually drive through the football field of our old East High School. Our high school was torn down many years ago. Our high school was located at 48th Street, just south of today’s 202 freeway. For college, Arizona State University is located by driving east along the 202. Not many people can say that they attended school along the 202 freeway. 

Six grown women shared stories of fellow grade school classmates, we wondered where some of our friends were today. We attempted to piece together our past as if it was a life jigsaw puzzle. We laughed deeply about our silly antics of classroom lessons,playground follies, team sports, old boyfriends, lost loves, band, pom and cheer, football games were just some of our high school discussions.  We had teachers that loved us and dedicated their selves to us. It was interesting to find how we had made our way in the world. 

We grew up in a strange time. We were too young for the 1960’s, so we couldn’t wear hip hugger pants, unless you wore a shirt tucked into them. Hip hugger pants went below the belly button, so the shirt defeated the purpose of exposing the belly. Young grade school girls were not allowed to dress with their body showing; yes we had a dress code at our school. 

We missed the impact of the 1970’s, so most of our friends didn’t experiment with drugs, we just weren’t cool enough. Now I am not saying that they didn’t exist, it is just the group of people that I spent time with, didn’t associate themselves with drugs.

We graduated in 1979, not quite the 1980’s, so we weren’t wild or hip and we didn’t wear neon colors. All of the Madonna, Cindy Lauper or the Cars influence came later in the 1980’s. No we were the preppy ones; we wore top siders, button down shirts, khaki’s slacks, the classic tailored look. This time period that we grew from wise senior high school graduates into young adults, reflected our being raised by parents from the 1950’s. 

My girlfriends are accomplished, dedicated and talented women. They love with the depth of their souls: their families, their children, nephews and nieces. They love fiercely!

It is only while attending grade school or high school that you are with your own age group. This time passes so quickly. The rest of our lives we are thrown into a variety of a mix of ages, a multitude of generations. It is with deep satisfaction and admiration to spend time with those that you have grown up with and it feels like coming home to be with those in your age group. For a while the years fade and you are once again a young person. 

So this week I hope to encourage anyone with an old cherished grade school or high school friend, to get back in touch with them. Share a laugh over some coffee, meet for dinner,  attempt to call them and in the least find them on Facebook. If you are one of the blessed ones and have a girlfriend, I challenge you to find her and whether local or far away tell her that you miss her and share a giggle.

Labyrinths - A Journey

According to Wikipedia labyrinths have been around for ages. The earliest ones were even found in the third century. Labyrinths appear as designs on pottery, etchings on walls of caves or churches, floors in tile or even of mosaic. They are even found in the basements of cathedrals throughout Europe.

Labyrinths are meant to be walked or at least allow the ‘mind’ to walk. As you walk towards the center of the labyrinth you are taking a journey inward. One is encouraged to think and reflect on things that they need to let go. Time to process where life is going, perhaps think of people or situations that need to be put aside so that time to mediate and allow peace to come.

When you reach the center of the labyrinth you are encouraged to think on what you need at this point of your life; perhaps strength, clarity, depth, understanding, encouragement, etc. As you begin your journey back out of the labyrinth one can gather the strength or fortitude to face their life from the experience.

A number of years ago I went to Sacramento to attend a conference, prior to the conference beginning I was able to make a retreat for two days. During this retreat we were ‘expected’ to complete the labyrinth experience that evening. My assigned time was nine at night. I had just traveled in early to attend the workshops on the retreat, I was tired and I don’t think anyone likes to be forced to do something. So needless to say I was NOT happy to be a part of the experience.

So I showed up for my time and began the process. We were given headphones with a guided meditation English accent voice to guide us through the labyrinth. There were eleven stations to pause at and reflect on a part of your life. Honestly, I was in no mood for this exercise. But when I reached station three, Letting Go – it hit me! I had many things, including the huge chip on my shoulder to let go! As I progressed through the Labyrinth, station seven, how we are perceived was also very hard for me, as it dealt with how wonderful and gifted we each are made. My favorite station was eleven, impressions. You stepped into sand and it talked about what impressions we are leaving on the earth, a global perspective besides our everyday impressions. I was blown away by walking a labyrinth. It was truly a profound experience.

I honestly have reflected on my experience with the Labyrinth many times. Just this past week I saw some designs on pottery that reminded me of the Labyrinth. It made me think how is my journey these days through life? Am I being true to myself? Am I allowing myself time to reflect on life? Where do I get my strength from? How am I being perceived? Who are valuable people in my life? Have I thanked them lately? And what impressions am I leaving on the earth? Who will remember what I have done when I am gone?

These are just some of the questions that I reflected on and honestly I don’t always have the answers! But I do know that I am a seeker. I am a seeker of knowledge, of knowing myself, of being important to people – to be an encourager. Are you a seeker?

I want to encourage anyone out there to seek out a Labyrinth and allow time for you to know yourself. You may wish to think of it as a quest!