With a Hometown Favorite

Penguin in a Tree

There are fewer things I miss more than my girlfriends.  Sharing history that spans decades and distance and marriage.  Discussing our aging physiology and body functions, including how easily we now wet our pants.  Gracing one another with the space to be fully authentic, even if it means being angry, or sad, or straight up bitchy.  I have girlfriends related by genetics, and college, and hometown, and Chicago.  I don’t have material possessions waiting for me at home, but I am a rich, rich woman in relationships, and I miss them every day, all the time.

Mandela's Original Cell

When Steph started poking around to figure out my schedule, I became suspicious, but dared not get my hopes up; could it possibly be that someone was coming to visit??  I understand and respect that everyone is busy leading full lives at home, and traveling around the world costs time and money and energy; it’s no Sunday brunch.  So I could hardly believe it, could hardly contain my excitement when she confirmed my suspicions and told me she was on her way here to South Africa.  There was no better medicine for my travel-weary spirits as I anticipated her approaching arrival, and I was nearly bursting out of myself with excitement as I rode the bus to meet her; we hadn’t planned on it, but I wanted to surprise her at the airport, knowing how lonely it can be to arrive to a whole lot of nobody in a foreign country.  Our reunion was sweet as I pounced on her from the tree behind which I was hiding, stealthy girl that I am.  Thus began our whirlwind week of the century.

We tore up Cape Town.  We devoured historical museums, collected sightings of wild animals, and met ghosts on Robben Island.  We experienced Cape Town’s renown nightlife, wondering at the inexpensive cost of cider and the audacity of the local men.  We hiked Table Mountain with our favorite South African family, and bemoaned the state of our quads the morning after.  Wearing our dirty t-shirts and hiking shoes, we emulated the sexy photo shoots that surrounded us on the beach, simply because we are that mature and it made us laugh.  Because even now, 20 years into our friendship, laughing is what we do best.  Whether over coffee in the morning, or in completely inappropriate situations, whether when we were half asleep or in the company of people who had no idea what was funny, our marathon giggling epitomized not only the beauty of true friendship, but the beauty of Steph.  So here's to another 20 years of hilarious adventures, old buddy...  WHALE!!