We Don’t Have to Do It Alone
There is something truly special about the friendships women share. As the years go by, we come to appreciate just how precious these relationships are. Our girlfriends are the women who share our laughter, listen to our worries, celebrate our milestones, and stand beside us when life becomes difficult. Our relationships falter or loved ones pass away, or medical concerns weigh heavily on our minds, but our friends offer comfort and understanding. And when they need us, we do our best to be there for them. Friendship is about remembering the past, celebrating the present, and sharing whatever the future may bring.
Recently, I spent a happy afternoon in Windsor with two childhood friends, pouring over our high school yearbooks at The Twisted Apron. What a special trip down memory lane! Pam settled with her charming husband in Guelph, Ontario, and drove three hours to Windsor so Barb and I could cross the Gordie Howe Bridge for the first time. I have to say that crossing the bridge on a sunny day was a beautiful experience. I thought several times about the metaphor of crossing a bridge.
As we reunited, we burst into joyous laughter and cried. We had not been together as a threesome since our first ten year high school reunion in 1981. We went back in time as we thumbed through yearbooks, turning the pages to view classmates dissecting fetal pigs in biology class, cheerleading poses, class awards and all the various activities at West Bloomfield High School that seemed so important at the time… We especially remember the year when our dear friend, Julie, of blessed memory, was chosen as Homecoming Queen. Although Julie is no longer with us, those memories made us feel that she was wonderfully close again.
We filled the gaps in one another’s memories. When one of us forgot a name or an important detail, another remembered. Together, we brought those precious moments back to life and shed tears of joy as we reminisced about our younger selves and all the friends and classmates we truly miss. What a gift it is to have friends we knew when we were just beginning our journeys.
Of course, friendships don’t have to last a lifetime to become meaningful. Sometimes a new friend quickly becomes someone we can trust with our deepest concerns and happiest news. Each friendship brings something different to our lives, whether it’s a listening ear, wise advice, a good laugh, or a comforting embrace.
Recently, four friends in a special birthday club gathered to celebrate our dear girlfriend Bonnie’s 75th birthday. Over dinner, we shared tales of family news, aches and pains, joys and sorrows. We laughed, listened, raised our glasses, and hugged, grateful to be with one another. These are moments we treasure. They remind us that growing older doesn’t have to mean growing alone or apart; often, it means appreciating our friendships even more.
And speaking of birthdays, why not make a fuss over those milestone years that end in zero or five? A dozen old friends gathered to celebrate our gals who turned 70 this past year. Our generous hostess, Mindy, created and displayed larger-than-life hilarious AI portraits of the birthday girls at different stages of their lives and each of us wrote down the things we love about them, tucking our notes into gift jars tied with ribbons and reading aloud how much they mean to us.
I see this spirit all the time among the residents of JSL. Women sit together chatting in the living rooms, near each other during Live and Learn classes, walking arm in arm, and comforting one another. A saved seat, a shared meal, or a listening ear without judgment may seem like a small gesture, but they are what make living in the JSL communities so meaningful. How fortunate we are to have people nearby who care enough to ask how we’re doing, check in on us, and stay close when life becomes difficult.
In today’s uncertain world, these connections matter more than ever, especially as we age. We need people who will celebrate our happiness, share our sadness without judgment and listen to us complain and love us anyway. We may not be able to solve one another’s problems, but we can help share the burden. Somehow, when we face life’s challenges together, the weight becomes easier to bear.
Friendship brings comfort, resilience, laughter, and love. It reminds us that even when we can’t change our circumstances, we can offer one another the strength and reassurance to get through them. Whether our cherished friendships span decades or are just beginning, they enrich our lives in ways both large and small.
May we all be blessed with good friends who lift our spirits, hold our hands through difficult times, celebrate our joys, and remind us how much we mean to one another.
SHABBAT SHALOM
