Golden Girls  

Over the past few weeks, a lot of my friends on Facebook have been tagging people as either their "newest" friend, their "oldest" friend, their friend with the "best smile", their "funniest" friend, etc. That got me to thinking... who are the "Golden Girls" in my life?

OK, I am one big nerd here for not only liking, but absolutely loving old Nick-At-Nite re-runs of "Golden Girls". That Rose, Blanche, Dorothy, and Sophia get me every time. Sure, the show glamorizes senior citizen-living, and undoubtedly bad Miami style circa 1983 (who decorates with all wicker florals anymore?). But who wouldn't want to grow old in the company of your closest friends?

My Blanche- This is a pair of old college friends, who stood next to me on my wedding day as two of my bridesmaids. At times, these friends are a little risque-- they're not afraid what other people think, and dance to the beat of their own drum. I love living vicariously through them out-of-the-ordinary experiences. They've definitely traveled down this road and back again.

My Rose- These are my two closest friends from work. At times, my job can be downright nervewracking, and these two know exactly how to keep me at ease with a quick smile and a "hearty" laugh. Having them in close reach every weekday keep me sane, and also keep me employed! Both of their hearts are definitely true!

My Dorothy- This is a tie between an old friend and a new friend. The first is one of my oldest friends from college, who always levels with me about my life, my choices, and my emotions. She tells it like it is, but always with empathy and compassion. The second is a friend I just met in the past year, but who has already captured a very special place in my life. She and I have a lot in common, and I often get the feeling she knows what I'm thinking before I even say it. These two are my pals and my confidantes.

My Sophia- Obviously, my mother. Growing up, she told me she didn't want to be my friend, that it was her job to be my mother. But as I've grown older, I've found she's the type of person I can trust with anything... and I have told her everything, even things she probably wouldn't want to know about her adult daughter. If I threw a party a party, and invited everyone I knew, the biggest gift would definitely be from her.

But there are so many more... there are the women I have met since having G, who have not only become my friends, but whose children I hope will be G's friends for years go come. There's my old neighbor, who always looks on the brightest side of life. There are all of my college friends, who knew me "back when" and still manage to love me. There are the BBC girls whom I've never met in real life, but who know some of the truest yearnings of my heart.

I wouldn't be the same without all of these "Golden Girls" in my life. They keep me grounded, they enrich my life in so many ways, and even if I don't tell them all the time, I love them all in very different ways. Whether I've known them my entire life or just recently, they've all made a mark on who I am today, and who I strive to be in the future.

So "Girls", how 'bout it? You, me, and a nice house in a Miami-area retirement community in about 40 years? Thank you for being my friend.