This weekend has been in the works for months. We sent out a survey, booked a cabin, and mapped out the itinerary. We’re gathering from all across the country, traveling via (literal) planes, trains, and automobiles to be together for just a few days. Early alarm clocks, layovers, long hours on the highway. Texts reading “I’m on my way!” and “are you packing a swimsuit?” are flurrying in the group chat.
Each arrival elicits squeals and long hugs, introductions and “it’s so nice to finally meet you!”s. We settle into our rented cabin as if it’s our home, grabbing drinks and making tacos and unpacking our respective journeys around the table. We’re all exhausted, but we wait up for the last group to arrive safely before turning in.
Our mornings consist of breakfast sandwiches on croissants and various types of cinnamon rolls. Each of us orders a latte at every opportunity, passing around our drinks so we can all sample all the flavors. Everyone’s order is affirmed with a passionate “that is sooo good!” We wander in and out of stores, bringing chaos and exclamations of how cute everything is. We encourage one another to try on the polka-dot pants, purchase the precious children’s book for the new nursery, and take home the tiny hand-painted matcha spoons that spark joy.
We go to dinner and all order steak and burgers, appetizers, and a fun drink. It’s a treat yourself weekend—you’re only in Nashville once (say the women who will be back here in just a month for my wedding). The restaurant staff signs a card saying “congratulations” and the women write real sentimental notes, though we just met. We order ice cream before dinner, pay for one another’s drinks, and take every trip to the bathroom together.
We settle into a rhythm almost immediately, picking up right where we left off years ago. It’s been ten years since I’ve lived in the same city as any of them, but they are my nearest and dearest at any distance. Every night we make a pot of tea and sit around the living room chatting. Even though some of us just met, we all find things in common immediately—the universal truths of girlhood. We lament about dating apps, exchange lore from our shared pasts, discuss our jobs and the latest workout trends and our favorite things to make for dinner. We unpack our dreams and our most loved travel destinations, and we laugh tears stream down our faces.
Some of us are pregnant, some newly married, some are new mothers. Some are anticipating a wedding and some thriving in singlehood. We work in hospitals, schools, offices and from our homes, all impacting our respective communities each day. We traveled from California, Colorado, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky, sacrificing time and money and when we’re sitting all in one room it’s like we’ve never been apart.
There is dancing in the kitchen, tears of joy and excitement, discussions of the next time we’ll all be together. We smile for the pictures, knowing this moment of joy will be immortalized and for that reason I am grateful for each click of the lens though my cheeks hurt from smiling. We are perfectly captured, with our shopping bags and coffees and arms around each other. The grins on our faces are wide and our hearts full. Friendship with each of these women has shaped me and saved me and made my life infinitely superior than it would have been otherwise.
We say our goodbyes and go our separate ways once more, but our souls are aglow with the warmth of girlhood.
Olivia graduated from Calvin in May 2018 with a double major in business and writing. She now works as an editor in Nashville, Tennessee and is eating her way through the restaurants of her new town. She enjoys weekend trips with friends, petting other people’s dogs, and drinking coffee like a Gilmore Girl.
