Good morning, Monday. I spent the weekend relaxing and it was nice to dial it all down a notch or two.
So much fun stuff coming up in the next few weeks- a long overdue girls weekend with all of my best friends from childhood. I was lucky enough to have that girl group vibe all of my life until college when we all went our separate ways- sure more female friendships ensued that I treasure, but I never had that clique thing again. We bonded over the fact that we were a bit off kilter as compared to the very metalhead/guido vibe of my suburban Philadelphia high school. We loved new wave, Duran Duran, and Esprit de corps. I suppose we were pretty textbook Gen X teens, but my high school was far from a John Hughes movie. If I'm being honest, there was not a lot of room for someone like me- an art school kid who worshipped Siouxsie Sioux and read the "Village Voice" on a regular basis.
So my girls and I really became friends long before high school- there was the set of twins from around the corner who were truly my sisters from about the age of 5, and then along came three more girls who took very prominent roles in my female development. Thank goodness for all of them.
We were all fairly good girls (some better than others wink wink) and we had the absolute best time. I never felt right growing up in Philly as many of you know, but these girls probably saved me from a hormonal, existential crisis almost every single day. Without them, I would not know the value of female friendship from such a young age. From memorizing all the words to our favorite songs and screaming them at the top of our lungs to being completely boy crazy for guys who drove Jettas and wore Vuarnets and had side swept bangs to sneaking Kahlua from our parent's liquor cabinets or stealing cigs from my dad, we were there for each other. We saw each other through every crazy haircut, every crush, every first we ever had. And these girls arguably know me better than anyone else.
If we cut to now, the evolution of our friendship is unique. I'm the only one of six girls that did not have children, we are all married, and we are scattered throughout the country. One friend lives in Toronto, another in Philly, her sister in Atlanta, and two Californians to round it out- one in LA and one in SF. And then of course there's me here in NY. I worry sometimes if my lack of kid cred will ever make me feel left out, but because we all love each other so much, it never does. Because we knew each other way back when, and when we see each other, it's like we never left each other's sides, which is a great blessing. I sense I may be the wackiest, but true fact- I always was. ;) They have all grown up to be such beautiful, smart, amazing creatures, by the way. I'm proud to call each of them a friend for life. And most of all, they always accept me for exactly who I am, or for the many iterations of who I came to be and may still become.
If you're reading this and thinking about your special female friendships, I'm glad. There's simply nothing better than a girl gang- and I can't wait to see mine when we reunite at the scene of the crime this weekend in Philly. There will most likely be lots of laughs, lots of shopping, and lots of wine. Now if only I could decide what to wear. Oh and I guarantee you we will be singing some choice 80s songs at the top of our lungs.
Cause that's what's up this girls rule kind of Monday in the 212. Yours, in lady gangs and friends forever. XO
(Don't you just love that pic above ps? It's by Ken Russell, from his Teddy boy series in postwar London. Brills.)