I am in love...with my girl friends. I am unbelievably blessed in this aspect of my life. This realization recently came to head while traveling...

Months ago one of my dear friends, Tam, who lives in California (to my Florida), called me; I couldn’t answer but she left a frantic and desperate sounding message: She had just found out she needed a very necessary surgery on both feet in order to cease ongoing pain she had been contending with for a year. I was the first call she made after receiving the news, even before calling her fiancée, Mark, who is a doctor.

She was frantic because she immediately thought of her baby and how she would care for him. I was the first person she though of asking to both help calm her down and to ask to come out and help her. I caught up with her a little later that night; we discussed her needs and I did my best to reassure her that the baby would be fine and all would work out.

Within a few weeks we confirmed when the surgery would occur and I booked a flight to San Francisco for a 10-day stay. She was overjoyed that I was able to come and help take care of them. It gave me much joy knowing how much it meant to her and that she trusted me enough to care for the baby.

Seeing I had lived in the San Francisco Bay for a while, I also have other girl friends in the area, one of which is Cindy, who was part of a trio I became apart of. The three of us would get together, sometimes weekly, and always had a blast. When I told her I was coming to the area she seemed excited and we planned to get together. (The third lady, Lori, had since moved out of the area so we would miss her during my visit.)

I chose to fly out of Ft. Lauderdale rather than the airport in my area, as there were more flight options and less expensive ones to boot. Caroline, one of my closest girl friends lives near there and all along, had offered to let me park at her place and she could drop me at the airport. I was grateful, of course, but opted to have my mom drive me so I didn’t have to leave my car anywhere for that length of time.

During my time in California, I had planned to finally have my belongings moved back to Florida since I hadn’t been able to get back in the two years since my departure. Cindy lives near the storage facility and we planned that I would stay over at her house the night before the moving company was coming. It was a more convenient option for me as I was staying about a 30-minute drive from the facility and easier than getting up early to make the trek. What a blessing!

Skip ahead to late June: The day of my departure arrived and I was super excited to see my girl friends and finally meet Tam’s baby.

While sitting at an airport restaurant during my long layover in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Caroline called me. She said that I should tell my mom not to worry about coming to fetch me from the airport upon my return; she was off work that day and needed to make the trip to my coast and would like to pick me up and take me home. She even asked if I wanted spend the night, so we could have some extra time to hang out, then make the drive the next morning. I said ‘thanks’ and I would let her know about staying over, but would love to have a couple hours, regardless, with her.

How sweet is that? What an awesome friend she is!

My flight ended up being delayed for bad weather in Minn/STP, which put me into San Francisco an hour later than I was supposed to land. I was grateful to Mark for being so flexible and able to come to pick me up at 11:00 PM. Tam was texting me, saying she wanted to wait up for me, but I urged her to go to bed, as I was certain it had been a long day for her.

She was kind enough to lend me her car while I was in town so I didn’t have to rent one. I didn’t really anticipate needing one other than my trip to the storage facility and to Cindy’s. I also found out my former boyfriend was going to be in town that weekend and we arranged to have lunch and for him to retrieve a couple items he had left amid my belongings.

That was to take place two days after my arrival...

The day I was to both meet up with my ex and go to Cindy’s, I left in Tam’s car and was on my way. I was about five miles from the house, driving on HWY 101, when I noticed there was a huge problem with the car: the gas wasn’t working! And even scarier—I had to get across four lanes of fast moving traffic, into the median. God was on my side at that moment for certain, as there was a clearing and I made it over—somehow.

Oh, and as I did, the car made a really LOUD noise like an explosion. But, nothing was on fire so I was okay.

What to do...I ended up calling Mark (Tam’s fiancée) and he came (from work) to my rescue. I called Cindy and explained what happened and mentioned I may not make it—she was so sweet, offering to come all the way there to get me. It ended up that Mark lent me one of the other vehicles later in the day.

I didn’t make lunch with the ex but thankfully was able to make it to the storage unit (which I desperately needed to do before the movers arrived early the next morning), and to Cindy’s. I walked in the door to her house and it was like no time had passed since we last saw one another...I always love that feeling. That is the sign of a true friend...when ten years can pass without seeing someone and it feels like you saw one another a week prior.

Cindy had wanted to make dinner for us and have some quality time alone before we were to go out for the evening. I walked in the kitchen and she was preparing this huge meal. I was so flattered she would go to so much trouble! And it was an amazing meal...definitely made with love. We sat out on their deck, enjoying the evening air, sipping wine and just catching up. We called our third musketeer and left her a voicemail, letting her know we missed her presence.

Later that night Cindy, her husband and I met up with another couple at a salsa joint in the city...had a blast, then went home to bed. I had to roll out of bed by 6:15 AM...and that hour came really soon.

I left their beautiful home feeling a bit sad that I didn’t get more time with Cindy, but I know it’s not going to be the last time we’ll see one another. I also left with a really special feeling; knowing what a lovely, lovely friend I have in her.

I was with Tam and her family every day for the rest of my stay. I felt like a princess as she kept pampering me with things I dobn't normally treat myself to, but love (like a facial and mani/pedi...she even bought us matching jackets). I know it was her way of thanking me for being there.

But I was the one who was grateful. For witnessing what an amazing mother she is, not only to her son but to Mark’s two daughters (who absolutely adore her), grew my heart threefold!

Admittedly, I feel I an innocent bystander benefiting from all that love: Giving and receiving it by making sure the needs of all were being met as best I could and receiving appreciation in return. This trip proved to be more precious to me than I could have imagined. Tam and I grew closer, plus I had the opportunity to get to know her precious baby...even the dog was appreciative and happy I was there.

Yes, it’s hard work walking into a house wherein lives a family you don’t know (I hadn’t spent a lot of time at their home while I lived there as Tam and I met merely months before I moved and usually went out)...invading their space and trying to take care of them...but I was respectful of their space and was shown the same respect. I think that helped.

When it came time to go home, the hardest part was leaving Tam, knowing she still needed a hand. But reinforcements were on the way...so I had peace of mind.

I sat at the airport that night basking in the aftereffects of the previous ten days, I was grateful for the opportunity but also happy to be on my way home where I could sit in retrospect of it all.

My flight was late departing both San Francisco and Houston...I warned Caroline via text that we would probably arrive in Ft. Lauderdale late; she said it was fine and would be waiting. And she was...right outside the baggage claim doors. We spent a fun and laughter filled two hours in the car ride to my town. We actually talk constantly and see one another sporadically but she is one of my favorite people so I cherish alone time with her. She’s so popular that when she’s in town, it’s usually a group outing.

She mentioned that her parent’s asked her to invite me to their house for dinner that night but I ended up not making it...I was exhausted and had to work the next two days, therefore needed to sleep. They all understood. But what a lovely gesture that was to me.

I was inspired and deeply moved by where I had been the past two weeks. I am so blessed by all the women in my life. There are a few more I didn’t mention here but they are imperative to this story as well. I love them so very much; they are all beautiful, loving and I couldn’t ask for better friends with which to surround myself.

Thank you ladies for allowing me to be apart of your worlds...I love you deeply!