It's amazing how a night out
with your girlfriends can
lift your spirits...
going out to dinner
with Melissa and Cheryl
and we talked about
our self-help books
and dating misadventures
as the kids played.
I told them how
I put my ads on
different dating sites again
and Melissa's daughter piped in,
"Is your ad on match.com...
because I was trying to find
a date for my dad, and he said
~she's cute~but wait~is she...
one of your mom's friends?~
and Melissa, Cheryl and I
laughed until tears rolled
down our cheeks.
We went to church together
and joked how we would all
run away to the Dominican Republic
on their mission, and I'm
not sure where she found it,
but Cheryl came up with
a pillow and said she
was ready to go.
When the music touched me
and I was getting ready to cry,
Cheryl hit me on the leg and
grimaced, "Smile, girlfriend!"
The room lights dimmed and
all the instruments were
put down as Steve approached
the piano and sang the
prettiest version of
"I Can Only Imagine"
that I ever heard.
We swayed together and lifted
our voices in worship
as a warmth enveloped me.
After church, we went to
the coffee shop and
met Hope, Haley, Stephanie.
Haley gave me a huge hug,
and Beth walked up,
an awesome reunion.
I was surrounded by girls,
all newly single and
who all knew my stories.
There were hugs and giggles,
plans and phone numbers,
and I left feeling loved.
We all got fliers on
the singles group and
dared one another
to start going...
and I left there
with newfound hope
that maybe, I could
be okay again.
"See you next week!"
I waved as I walked
with their friendship
around my shoulders,
holding me and
keeping me warmer
than any coat
ever could.
