As one gets older it is important to have friends who are older than you are. Not just because they still think that you are a young 'un but because you get to see that the passage of life is not that frightening after all. I remember when I thought that 35 was old, let alone 50 and anyone over 60 was living on borrowed time. Now that I'm on the better side of 40 I have moved the post of old age to 80. Then again, I think of my neighbour Ginny, vital at 81, and so I shift it again to 85.Friday night, nine mid-life girls got together to celebrate life and the turning of a page. One of us turned 50 and we celebrated in style.
First, we dressed to the nines. Something we don't get to do much anymore. I have one outfit that qualifies as a nine. It's a charcoal-grey silk pantsuit made in Italy. Now, don't think too hoity-toity of me. A wealthy woman somewhere passed it on and somehow it ended up with my friend, Jett, who passed it on to me, a grateful heiress.
Next we met on a blustery and wet night at Kay's place for appies and wine. There's something special about being all dressed up, sipping wine and nibbling appetizers, knowing that you actually have somewhere to go. Our birthday girl was crowned with a tiara and sash. She was queen for the night and so, very suitably, a limousine arrived at 7pm to drive us royally to Granville Island Theatre.
My first limousine ride, alive with nine women laughing and talking and drinking champagne, was the highlight of the evening for me. It's way more conversational to sit in a U formation in a stretch limo bantering and taking pictures than to sit facing forward and craning your neck to talk to those behind you. I wasn't in the limo 5 minutes when I knew I wanted to celebrate like this with my girlfriends. Now to find a good reason - my 50th is too far away!
Finally, we swanned into the theatre glamorously overdressed considering that West Coast patrons casually wear blue jeans to the theatre and the symphony. The queen of our entourage gamely, unabashedly and stylishly sported her tiara and sash. She wore her crown of 50 years with pride and poise.
Some of the jewels in my crown of life are my girlfriends. I am blessed with friendships and connections with a number of women. Whether they be 50, 105, 93 or 35, I value the richness and depth they bring to my life. We pass life lessons on to each other, share tears, heartaches, dreams and triumphs. I wouldn't want to walk through life without any of them.
My gorgeously glamorous girlfriend has shown me how to be comfortable in my skin, to wear my age with enthusiasm and openness, to do life with my girlfriends and that wearing a sparkling crown is for all of us, if we are game.
