A Wild Women's Weekend:

In 1997, six women met at a lakeside cottage in the Muskoka area of northern Ontario. It was a meeting of three work buddies who each brought a friend, but within an hour, it was as if we had known each other forever. The common thread then was, that we were all without a man in our lives--some newly detatched, and others more experienced in this lifestyle. It was a weekend of shared stories, side splitting laughter, and great outdoor activity. I especially remember a canoe trip on the lake by the cottage which ended at a small inlet where we picniked on some rocks. Mostly, I remember the laughter and joy of being in the company of these women. That weekend we made t-shirts that proclaimed us "Wild Women" and we vowed to make this an annual event.

Over the years, we have been together in various combinations, but never all together as a group of six. Our lives have gotten more complicated (some of us are with men again) and the distances that keep us apart have grown greater.

This past week, three of us gathered again at a cottage, but this time on Long Boat Key in Florida. Whenever we meet like this, invariably, rememberances of that long ago weekend crop up. It always seems like yesterday that we were all together, the conversations flow, the laughter continues and we enter the dance of those who have been connected in intimate ways that span many years. In other ways, there are noticeable differences. Our shapes have changed and we bemoan the effects of gravity on our bodies. There are other changes too -- Linda tells me that I snore (I can't imagine this!) and we definitely go to bed earlier - well, some of us anyway! It seems that a little of the 'Wild' has gone out of the 'Women' - just a little though!

At the end of these times together, I'm always struck by how fortunate I feel to have these women in my life and what a shame it is that we can't make these gatherings happen more often - with more of us present. For those who weren't there, you were missed but I'm sure your ears were ringing!