Women's Weekend

How very fortunate I feel! I have just spent the weekend with 7 wonderful women for the 15th year in a row. It is too long a story to tell about how we all came together in the beginning and looking at us you would never guess, so for now, that will remain a mystery.
Sadly we have lost 2 of our group. The eldest, a farm woman, who was truly a lady, died with great dignity at 98. The last time, she was already 96 but entered into all of our conversations, laughter, dining, movie going and shopping with vigor and a marvelous sense of humor. Every year her mission was to buy a new sweater. Never mind that she had many, almost all of which were navy or black, wool cardigans. She needed another and who were we to say that she couldn't or shouldn't? Only the best quality was considered, they had to last, and even though other colors and styles were offered, she preferred a sensible navy button-up. And that is what she had. We miss her terribly.
Our second missing member was stricken with cancer and before we could blink, she was gone. Another salt of the earth, octogenarian with a hairstyle that reminded me of a newly hatched bird. Every hair stood up on its own, independent of all others. She wore crazy, light-house earrings and whacky scarves and greeted everyone with arms outstretched and a huge smile that crinkled her entire face. She loved owls and would have chosen to be reincarnated in that form, I'm sure. Imagine our delight, the very next year following her death, on seeing a large Barred owl looking down on us from the branches of a tree, right in the center of our shopping street.
The remaining 8 are hale and hearty and range in age from 50 to 81. Our numbers will, of course, dwindle in time but no new ones are invited. The younger ones joke about the time that they will be spending their weekend as a twosome or a single, but we made a pact. Only charter members can attend.
As we departed, the hotel manager commented on how much he had enjoyed witnessing the love and caring we all showed for each other. That said it all.