Friendsgiving
Every year, without fail, as the temperature starts to drop and the leaves begin to fall, a potluck dish list is passed around between a group of women, even though we religiously make the same things each year so there is really no need for a list.
Sarah's mashed potatoes made with cream cheese and way too much (just the right amount) of butter, Jessica's sweet potato casserole with toasted candied pecans sprinkled on top, Jules' broccoli rice casserole that tastes way better than it sounds, Lacey's mac and cheese bake with white pepper and cheese that stretches for miles, Jax flies in from Ohio, so she usually makes chocolate chip cookies the day of, and box or not, they are made with love and taste like it. I usually make some buttery garlic bread or cornbread and occasionally burn it. The rest of the gang will fill in the gaps with deep-fried turkey, fun layered salads, and pies. The bubbles flow, and the kids play hard, skipping naps and rolling down the hills in the Smith's backyard. My husband takes what will become everyone's holiday card photos by the big, pretty tree, and then when it gets dark, I help my friends make a case for why their husbands should take the kids home for bed so they can stay a little longer with me. It always takes a full day to recover once I get home, and it's worth it every single time.
We've been getting together like this for so long that I can't even remember when it started. All I know is that November wouldn't be the same without Friendsgiving and the chance it gives me to hug my besties and their littles, before toasting to laughs, more girls trips, and more time to enjoy it all.
Five years ago, I was a little less myself as we gathered for our annual tradition. My friends already knew my scans showed more cancer, and I was seeing another doctor locally for a second opinion the following morning. We didn't talk much about it because it was fresh and raw, and I just wanted to feel the joy this day always brought me. I am not alone in having arrived at this event carrying the heavy weight of grief and fear; each one of us has pulled ourselves together and shown up even when dealing with something because it is the togetherness of it all that gets us through. There is magic in being surrounded by friends who know you better than yourself, know when to hug you, when to let you have a moment of space, and when to fill your champagne glass to the tippy top. And I am so very thankful for mine.
