"when the years fall away..."

“We are friends for life. When we’re together the years fall away. Isn’t that what matters? To have someone who can remember with you? To have someone who remembers how far you’ve come?” 

― Judy Blume

166 years- or thereabouts- Elizabeth figured for us.  Our years of friendship- going back to around that first year in high school, just over 30 years ago.  The five Moorhead girls.  

Who became Spuds and teenagers, drivers and debaters, cheerleaders and punk rockers.  We bled orange and black, talked like "Valley Girls," totally, cheered loud and laughed louder.  We made memories... to last a lifetime.  

We went on to college, became lawyers and writers, moms and wives, crafters and bloggers, farmers and runners.  

We moved away, losing touch, but remembering often.

Till one plate of caramel rolls and a chance encounter and one day we were all back together again.

And who knew why?

Well life seemed to know why.

Because 3 of us would lose our beloved fathers within months of each other.  And 1 of us would get diagnosed with breast cancer while the other had a niece who developed a brain tumor... and the knowing matters.  Community matters.  166 years of The Moorhead Girls, matters.  More than one could ever truly express.

And perhaps, more than ever, we've come full circle to know each other full, all over again.  To embrace those times we were young, foolish, carefree, fun-loving and crazy. And to raise our glasses to the wise, accomplished, still- fun-loving and a just a tad bit crazy- women we've become.  

Here's to the Moorhead Girls!  May our bonds grow tighter, our laughter richer, and may our memories stretch out longer than any of us could ever have imagined.