A little bit about me

When I moved back to Charleston, I was invited to join some of my friends for a girls' night. This was a monthly ritual they had been doing for a while, and now that I was back they wanted to reconnect. I have know most of them longer than I've known my husband (and one I've known the majority of life), and we are all very different. However, we get along really well and I am eternally grateful to have them in my life. I didn't realized the importance of a female support group, but over the past year we have buried a husband, welcomed a new baby (and another comes in 3 weeks), endured multiple miscarriages, changed jobs, ended a career to stay home, and laughed. These women have become my sounding board and cheerleaders when I need it. Most of us have kids and jobs, but once a month we gather to eat and drink and laugh (and sometimes cry) and talk about life and stuff.

This is us at a baby shower in May.

To my female friends far away, I wish we had thought of this a long time ago! I miss you.

Cinamon and I met in 5th grade and we have been friends ever since. I don't have any siblings, so she is the closest thing I have to a sister (my parents consider her family, she's even in the will!). In January her husband passed away from brain cancer. It's an awful disease that strikes the young and strong, and he was able to fight it off for almost 15 years. Daren was a huge Mark Knopfler fan (from Dire Straits),and they had planned a trip to DC in May to see his concert. I think Daren was trying to survive long enough to get there; he had incredible seats and back stage passes. When he died, Cin was devastated but not going on the trip wasn't an option. So I went with her. I LOVE DC, and I've been many times as a chaperone, so I got to play tour guide a little since she had never been.

The FDR Memorial is one of my favorite places to visit, especially in late spring when the fountains are on.

The trip was great, a little bittersweet, but I'm so glad we went.