FUN WITH FRIENDS

I had a wonderful day yesterday with some really interesting women. The group did not include those two really special BFF's from NY but we had a lot of fun any way.
This was a group of ladies that I have met since we came to Florida 9 years ago. YES, it has taken me that long to make friends ! Most of them are acquaintances, women who have come into my life whose company I enjoy.  There are a couple of FFF's, (Florida Friends Forever), who I hope to have as friends for a long time to come.
I had decided that since we did not have any family coming to our house for Christmas I would have a gathering to celebrate life! These women have helped me through the past year and a half and have come to mean a lot to me. The group included my FBFF,(Florida BFF), Carol. I met Carol about 7 years ago when she took a job in my chiropractor's office. We would chat once a month when I went in for an adjustment and then go a month without talking. I came to learn she had 3 children, two boys and a girl, just like me.  Unlike me she was a talented artist and belonged to a writing group that she attended weekly. I will admit she did intimidate me to some degree with all that artistic ability going on but none the less we did become friends. Now we are together at least twice a week, whether it be for Chai Tea at Starbucks or trying out some new eatery that one of us discovered. Carol was the one who introduced me to Overeaters Anonymous after she took me out to eat a few times and realized I had an issue with food. I can't imagine what gave her that idea but I am so grateful to her for leading me to something that makes sense and works. (Forget the fact that the holidays have put me on a hiatus on the whole weight loss thing.) Carol is also one to challenge me when I get feeling sorry for myself. She is the voice of reason that Sharon and Jeanne always are when I am with them. Carol is my muse and my angel. I am blessed to have her in my life.
Some of the other ladies included Cousin Lucille from Port St. Lucie and her friend Susanne who drove her down here and back. There was Lucy from OA, My chiropractor's mom whom I really enjoy and like Carol have developed a friendship over the past 9 years. There was my neighbor Dottie who I never get together with but exchange e-mails constantly. (She is the source of many of my political e-mails. Need I tell you she is from NY?)  I also invited a younger woman who was my masseuse at Massage Envy. Over the past year Theresa and I have become friendly and exchanged many personal problems during our massage sessions. About 3 months ago Theresa informed me she was going to have to give up her career that she loved. She is having medical issues with her hands and wrists and can no longer give massages. She is now in transition to find some other career that she loves as much as this one. She has worked in the medical field for years and years so this change is really shaking up her life. She is a lovely young woman who married four years ago at the age of 39. She is a huge football fan from upstate NY but her team is the Patriots. Go figure ! She is funny and young so she was a must to have at our soiree.
Everyone seemed to have a good time, the food was yummy, thanks to Publix and their party trays, my home made fruit infused water was a big hit, (blackberry sage and raspberry lime) and there were even some cookies for the sweet tooth crowd. That "crowd" turned out to be Husband. He was the only one with the nerve to go for the goodies. Now I have 18 iced cookies from Publix bakery and no  place to get rid of them. I think they will go in the freezer for January when the grand kids will all be here.

And so I have welcomed in the season of good cheer with a really great gathering of women. WE celebrated and talked and talked and talked. Politics and Religion were both topics of discussion and I did think things might take a nasty turn but the ladies did manage to refrain from fist-a-cuffs. Although I do think I heard a few mutterings of "stupid bitch" coming from one or two people.