The Girls We Were......

This past week I walked back in time. My small group of Ripon friends were together again (most of us) at a B&B in Belleville, Wisconsin. These 1965 sorority sisters "found" each other as college students and after some side-roads "found" each other again at a Ripon reunion. I'd seen some of these friends one-on-one at various times, but raising new families, moving around the Country, starting careers, becoming adults meant that our worlds diverged.....until they didn't.

As we hugged, talked, ate, danced, laughed at that reunion we all said "We have to see each other again soon!" And so it began. In the 20+ years following we managed to gather about once a year (girls only) and pick up our conversations where we'd left off. We were similar and yet different. We were well educated and confident but had differing views of our worlds. That simply didn't matter. For the three or four days spent in Williamsburg or Nantucket or Myrtle Beach or Wisconsin or North Carolina or wherever we just had fun together and built more memories.

We left our reunion in Naples, Florida, we planned to meet to explore Nashville in 2019. But COVID got in the way. So this year we arranged to meet back in Belleville....with a few alterations. Our one Bestie couldn't come so that mean an hour-plus-long Facetime visit with her. It wasn't the same as the in person fun, but it helped fill the space where she should have been. One other friend was unable to be with us for the overnight part, but we spent two whole days together and just talked, laughed and remembered. At other reunions we've gone to the theater, played miniature golf, explored museums and galleries. This time it just seemed more important to be together and just share.

We are all now in our 70's and life has handed us different challenges and choices. It's hard to believe that so many years have passed since we pledged our sorority in 1965. It's hard to wrap my brain around remembering the girls we were and then celebrating the women we've become.

I wish everyone experiences like this.....time with friends who knew you when. No judgement....just acceptance, encouragement and love. Sending this out to Susie, Diane, Judy, Linda and Donna. Hugs to you all and I'm looking forward to the next Mini Ripon Reunion with you.