girlfriends with semi-colons
From the moment I hugged Mandy (accosted her is more like it) and got shoved by Cathi, they felt familiar and comfortable. We were all trembling from the nervousexcitement of meeting friends for the first time; we were literally shaking and out of breath. It was pure wonderful from the very first second.
There was not a single moment of awkwardness.
We found ourselves saying the same thing at the same time and finishing each others’ sentences. Even though we are at very different places in our lives, we share more common ground than I ever realized. My heart felt known and understood.
I’ve always watched with envy movies that depict a group of girlfriends. While I have closeness with a small group of friends, it’s only ever been as one-on-one friendships. I’ve never had that same level of intimacy and authenticity with more than one person at a time. So I wasn’t sure how that would play out this past weekend.
I feared feeling like a third wheel. I was scared that being the “quiet one” of the three would make me feel isolated. I thought my feelings of inferiority from not being in the academic world like the other two, would leave me feeling stupid and unloved. All of my fears were unfounded.
Now as I think about those movie scenes that I’ve always viewed with jealousy and pangs of longing, I can’t help but smile. It is possible. I’ve felt it, experienced it, held onto it with my own two hands. Sadly, I had to leave it behind.
But I know that our time together didn’t end with a period. No closure, no termination. It ended with a semi-colon; there’s more to come.
@atangie says:
semi-colon, I like that. :-)
I’m so glad for this… for you
@mandythompson says:
eyes welling up again….
can’t stand this.
You like to make me cry…. I have determined…
I can’t wait to hug you one day Alece…here or Africa, don’t care…and I promise I won’t shove… LOL
This blogging family is amazing….love you!!!
@danielleH says:
that is amazing. glad your heart has found that.
i’m not going to cry and my eyes aren’t welling up either…but very good writing and analogy!!!
@cassgirl says:
Now as I think about those movie scenes that I’ve always viewed with jealousy and pangs of longing, I can’t help but smile. It is possible. I’ve felt it, experienced it, held onto it with my own two hands.
This is where you inserted the semi-colon huh??
What you 3 shared was a “forever dance” !
A “forever dance” is hearts joining for the purpose of loving each other so deeply that even if you are as far as Africa, when you meet up again, it will only be like moments……
See the “forever dance” never stops !!! AS these 3 friendship will never either..
Awhhhhhhhhhhh…… God is so awesome!!!
Smiles all around, here. I know how this one feels, and it’s a good feeling. Happy place: I’ve found a few. Wonderful people=very yes.
i am so so so happy for you and thankful as God is so faithful to answer such sweet prayers…you know? duh. Of course you do.
oh how I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this post. Like, really love it! Love you!
i am always the “quiet one”, but when you are with people who love you, being the “quiet one” doesn’t matter any more.
sorry, that was kinda sappy.
I’m happy for you guys that you found such close friendship. I know just what you mean about feeling jealous watching those movies. Been there many times!! In fact I’m there right now! But I am blessed in that I have a sister and sister in laws that are my closest friends. We are just too busy with our family and things to connect together. I had planed to see Sex and the city movie with my sister in law, but since she’s not around anymore, I felt very lonely in a crowded theater with groups of friends surrounding me. I swear I was the only “single” there. But there was something great that happened in the bathroom afterwards! I was sitting in the stall and I over heard some girls talking about the romance of the movie and one girl said “I wish I had a “Mr. Big” (thats the main guy in the show). And I couldn’t help but smile and think to myself, “I have my “Mr Big” and I get to go home to him now!”. So I am very blessed to have my best friend with me always!.
What a great thought… “But I know that our time together didn’t end with a period. No closure, no termination. It ended with a semi-colon; there’s more to come.”
No period… I just love that. We touch each others lives… sometimes for a moment, sometimes for a lifetime, but there is no need for the period.
i’m so glad you guys understood what i was trying to say, and that others have felt the same way.
man…
This is encouraging.
Great to have our expectations far surpassed.
I just might need to venture out. ;)
do it! cause yes — this whole weekend and friendship-thing FAR exceeded my expectations!
Y’all are giving me hope it can be done and be good!
You girls are so fun…love that avatar, Alece.
@tamhodge says:
you said ‘colon’
you have one, you know.
Very creative, friend. Very.
I have a colon too.
Can we make a colon club?
thanks for helping me process through this, becca. and yes. you can be captain of the colon club. yolanda’s an honorary member.
@tamhodge says:
i have a colon and a special purpose.
my colon’s on strike.
I hate it when that happens.
nothing but BIG heart smiles. This is the ultimate.
“ultimate” is right!
@tamhodge says:
i just e/m you back. but i got an auto reply in return. slacker.
do you want the pron. here????
oh i got it, tamster. i got it! thanks for checking though. you rock.
Does it have to be a semi one to count???? Have a super weekend Alece dear….have you and your hubby hooked up now? Love you!
@tamhodge says:
deb looks hot!
LOL….that’s the cowgirl in me sweet tammers…..
i seem to remember Becca loves semi colons. maybe its someone else. but it made me think of her.
Alece, i feel like i can really relate to you on this one. I now have this awesome friendship here in Fredericksburg with my roommate Kim and our best guy friend Aaron. the three of us spend every waking, non working hour together possible. we do all the same things as you explained here. finishing each other sentences, and we even order at restaurants for each other knowing exactly what the other two would order naturally. there is never a moment where i feel like a third wheel. for the first time i don’t feel like the awkward one out. these two totally get me and i get them. the only difference is Kim is 32 and Aaron is 29. so they tease me a bit about being the baby of the friendship and comprised family. but i dish the old folks jokes right back at ‘em. for the first time i don’t always feel to young, to home schooled, to missionary-trying-to-be-American, I’m just at home with them, where ever we are.
it’s funny, i’m going out of town for one night (Saturday night) and so the three of us made plans that we have to hang out tomorrow because i’m going to be gone for 24 hours. haha!
it’s really nice to have people like this isn’t it?
your mom has closure!
[I'm glad i abolished your fears...I'll take the credit b/c of my mad skills...]
p.s…i love you
[hey, that's a chick flick too, isn't it?]
deb — you are rockin’ that cowgirl hat.
hannah — i’m glad you’re experiencing those kinds of friendships. it’s like a breath of fresh air, isn’t it?
cathi — your mom speaks whale.
oh wait, that would be you.
your moms a whale.
how did you know my mom speaks whale?
[did you realize that was one of the first questions you asked me!?!?!]
Semi-colon?? Good friends never ‘parse’! ;-)
love you Leesh.
<B
cathi — you’re right!! it is. how bizarre is that?
I just have to say it: THIS BLESSES ME!
I had a friend like that for two years until we both moved to different states and our relationship just changed. It’s so different when you can’t “do life together” on a daily basis.
I’m so glad you found that so quickly in Cathy and Mandy. THAT is what God meant for the Body. And I don’t know them or YOU – but I am blessed all over!
Hey – you’re in the States for how long? Anywhere near Atlanta??
quy — i relate with the not-able-to-do-life-together-on-a-daily-basis-ness. i normally am an ocean away from my friends, so i rarely get as many opportunities to soak in friend-time like i have in recent months.
and… i’ve been in the states for a few months already. i leave september 6 (after surgery… although mine’s slightly different than yours!). and i’m in NY… and unfortunately not coming to atlanta. maybe on a future trip though!
@cassgirl says:
You’d possibly do a layover in California too.., right??????
Tacos and lattes!!!
the perfect combination!
@cassgirl says:
Oh I forgot..
a comfy couch and long walk on the strand of beach I call home…
I am so looking forward to your return…..
awww… i miss your semi-colon, too! ha ha!