Girl Friend

Girlfriends

I sat under an Oak tree in Michigan on a summer day, drinking iced
tea
and visiting with my Mother. "Don't forget your girlfriends,"
Mother
advised, clinking the ice cubes in her glass. "No matter how much
you
love your husband, you are still going to need girlfriends.
Remember to
go places with them now and then; do things with them. And
remember
that girlfriends are not only friends, but sisters, daughters and
other
relatives too." What a funny piece of advice, I thought. Hadn't I
just
gotten married? Hadn't I just joined the couple-world? I was now a
married woman, for goodness sake, not a young girl who needed
girlfriends. But I listened to my Mom. I kept contact with my
girlfriends and made more each year. As the years tumbled by, one
after
another, gradually I came to understand that Mom really knew what
she
was talking about. Here is what I know about Girlfriends:
 Girlfriends bring casseroles and scrub your bathroom when
you
need help.
 Girlfriends keep your children and keep your secrets.
 Girlfriends give advice when you ask for it. Sometimes you
take
it, sometimes you don't.
 Girlfriends don't always tell you that you're right, but
they're
usually honest.
 Girlfriends still love you, even when they don't agree with
your
choices.
 Girlfriends might send you a birthday card, but they might
not.
It does not matter in the least !
 Girlfriends laugh with you, and you don't need canned jokes
to
start the laughter.
 Girlfriends pull you out of jams.
 Girlfriends don't keep a calendar that lets them know who
hosted
the other last big party! !
 Girlfriends will give a party for your son or daughter when
they
get married or have a baby, in whichever order that comes!
 Girlfriends are there for you, in an instant and when the
hard
times come.
 Girlfriends listen when you lose a job or a friend.
 Girlfriends listen when your children break your heart.
 Girlfriends listen when your parents' minds and bodies
fail.
My daughters, sisters, family, and friends bless my life! When we
began
this adventure we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows
that lay
ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other.

Pass this on to your girlfriends/sisters/daughters. I just did.