I spent the weekend at a Bachelorette Extavaganza. There were fesitivities from Thursday through Sunday to celebrate October Bride. Three nights of foolery, means there were a lot of blog posts running through my head! I mean, we were in Maryland (aaah). We ate crabs (mmm). We danced (whee). And of course, we consumed a wee bit of alcohol.
I could write about the Lord of the Flies moment where the bus broke down two exits from our house on The Beltway, but really, some things are better left un-remembered.
I could write about famous people’s cowboy hats, or what beer pong feels like at age 35. I could write about how hanging out with an amazing bunch of girls who are in the prime of young adulthood sent me home a little green with envy at their independence and how much they had in front of them. But I won’t because when I got home and saw my kids literally jumping up and down and chanting mom, mom, mom I remembered that while I loved being 26, newly married and kid-free, I would never trade my current life for any one else’s.
What I will write about is girlfriends.
October Bride has some incredible girlfriends. Thursday’s shower was both hosted and attended by girls who shared snacks in Kindergarten with October Bride. They are still her friends. Their mothers stood back and realized with obvious pride that their girls had grown out of their Catholic Elementary Uniforms to become successful, kind, intelligent women. As a shower guest it was lovely to be around. As a mother is was wholly inspiring.
The weekend concert and crab feast drew crowds from up and down the East Coast. These girls piled in cars, boarded trains and buses and moved mountains to make sure they were present to celebrate their friend. Some were college friends. Some were high school friends. Many were related. Isn’t that an extra-special kind of friend-family members who choose to love you and enjoy your company even outside of family functions?! October Bride inspires that in a lot of her family members.
The Bride made a cake-for someone else! The guests brought supplies, they slept on the floor (without complaint). They took pictures and made t-shirts. They teased, they laughed, they hugged (a lot).
The girls I got to hang around this weekend were great fun. But they were also a reminder of how lucky we are as women to have each other. No matter what stage of life, we need our girls to make life full (even if we do sometimes have to carry their belligerent selves to the medic tent).
** As always thanks Mary O-official family historian and unofficial TC staff photographer.
P.S. Looking for more parenting guidance and tips for self-care? Check out From Chaos to Calm a guided training to help you feel better in this tough season.
I am SO happy to be able to provide pictures for your GREAT blog. I love reading and I really wish that we were re-doing the weekend! It was such a great way to end the summer. What a great time and October Wedding will be that much fun and more!