Blast from the past: the motherload

Well, I've been going through old scrapbooks and scanning pictures for about 2 hours now. It's worth it, let me tell you. I hope everyone enjoys this little walk down memory lane. I'm sure some of you may be a little embarrassed, but don't worry----I, myself, am quite embarrassed of these pictures. Most of them, in fact. But they are too freaking funny to ignore.

[1] 2003: I discover my inner giant amongst small friends. Special effects [standing on a step] included.

[2] 2002: The night we lovingly refer to as "The Clown Night." Allison and Hannah donned some lovely rouge applied by myself on this night. Apparently I thought I was a makeup artist and made them wear a butt load of blush. I neglected to turn myself into a clown, though....just my friends.

[3] 1999: The one and only picture I will allow from our freshman year. It's just chock full of chain belts, animal print, backless shirts and total chaos. In this picture I am, in fact, wearing a FURRY SHIRT. Kim has lovely bangs and Hannah is less than enthused to pose for yet another picture. I swear this is the most appropriate one from our whole year as baby freshmen.

[4] 20002: The Night We Went Out in Tee Shirts. And no makeup. And looked like total lunatics. I love this one, though. 'Tis the best.

[5] Hump Night 2003: I really can't go into details about this night on a public blog. But we all wore black, pigtails, and obscene amount of makeup, and an attitude problem. If you weren't there you totally missed out on the event of 2003.

[6] 2002: My favorite Lindsey picture EVER! Hannah isn't too bad either.

[7] 2001: We become Mexican. But my hair magically becomes blond and will soon turn blackish purple. That was a fun time, eh?

[8] 2002: Hardest semester of PT school ends, and thus our night out gets a little ugly. I don't need to go into details for this one, either.

[9] 2001: Us in Rome, while studying abroad in Spain. This is the only semi-decent picture I can share from that entire semester. I was freaking HUGE and blamed my shrinking clothes on the Spanish dryers. Too bad they didn't use dryers over there. And notice Kristen's Jamaican braids, aka "Jams."

[10] 2002: Attack of the twenty first birthdays, take one. To commemorate this special occasion the local bar gave away tiny plungers. It became my new best friend instantly.

[11] My 21st birthday with the Fab Five. Yes, I celebrated for two nights. And yes, I wore a tiara. I'm not proud about this, okay? They made me do it.

[12] Lindsey's 21st birthday with the Fab Five.

[13] Hannah's 21st birthday with the Fab Five. She got a tiara and a wand and a boa. Don't you like my scrap-booking caption sticker?

[14] 2004: Fab Five in Chicago for the first real "Girls Weekend." This was the only picture from the weekend where Hannah was smiling and Kim wasn't crying [totally over exaggerating here.]

[15] 2002: Fab Five at M.P. O'Reilly's. I miss that place! Full of memories.

[16] 2001: Fab Five in the Village. I look particularly hideous in this one but whatev.

[17] 2003: Fab Five plus Mark on NYE. Love the chili pepper lights, don't you?

[18] 2002: Fab Five on a totally random night out. I can't believe how often we went out "just for fun." I mean...during the week, multiple nights in a row. How did we do it?

Ah, the memories. They didn't call me the picture queen for nothing, folks. I miss my girls REALLY bad lately and this helped a little bit.

Hannah also emailed us this really cute reminder about girlfriends. I normally despise chain emails but this one is too good. And so true. And a little sappy. And pretty long. Enjoy!

SISTERS- FRIENDS


A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day,
drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As
they talked about life, about marriage, about the
responsibilities of life and the obligations of
adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her
glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance
upon her daughter.

'Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised, swirling
the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll
be more important as you get older. No matter how
much you love your husband, no matter how much you
love the children you may have, you are still going
to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now
and then; do things with them.'

'Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women...
your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other
women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women
always do.'

What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman
thought. Haven't I just gotten married?
Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I 'm now a
married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely
my husband and the family we may start will be all I
need to make my life worthwhile!'

But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact
with her Sisters and made more women friends each
year. As the years tumbled by, one after another,
she gradually came to understand that her Mom really
knew what she was talking about. As time and nature
work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,
Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world,
here is what I've learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.
BUT........

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how
many miles are
between y ou. A girl friend is never farther away
than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you
have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life
will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,
praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on
your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the
valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk
beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,
daughters -in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,
Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended
family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and
neither would I. When we began this adventure called
womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or
sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we
would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still.