“You’re in a Storm right now, & I’ll hold your Umbrella.” – Julie

A dear friend told me that recently. She saw the dark clouds in my life, the fog around my brain, the lightening that was, to be completely honest, scaring me. She knew I’d lost my way in a ‘perfect storm’ of sadness, pain, and fear.

Thankfully, my girlfriend was there for me. Is there for me. As are so many of my other dear friends. Judi (our resident Girlfriendology ‘Chief of Insanely Brilliant Ideas’) took over a lot of the responsibilities of keeping Girlfriendology going. Julie and others offered support, comfort, and shoulders and ears. Lorri, Ellen, Anne, Joan, Penny and Barb came to the house to help me out. More friends than I can name offered to assist, shared words of love and encouragement, sent virtual hugs and reminders of what friendship is really about.

GIRLFRIEND GRATITUDE … AKA: I am blessed with great girlfriends.

From Julie to Anne, Barb to Cath, Terri to Deana … I can’t name them all, and that is a wonderful thing. They do hold the umbrella for me when it storms. They make me laugh when I want to cry. They remind me that I have the strength to get through things and help me figure it out. They offer to weed, paint, clean or provide pizza and wine. They give me grace when I don’t respond to emails or answer my phone because I just can’t talk about it any more. (Thanks Joanne!) They take my mind off of things, help me find solutions and just show me acts of kindness on a daily basis.

THANKS GIRLFRIENDS! I couldn’t make it through a storm without you! And I promise to be here if/when you deal with your own weather issues! Love you!

p.s. And in the midst of my storm, a horrific ‘hurricane’ happened. I lost a dear, DEAR friend Allison. She was one of my two girlfriends who were dealing with cancer, and inspired me to start Girlfriendology seven years ago. She fought stage four cancer for nine years. And when I say “fought cancer,” she FOUGHT it. Went through three extreme surgeries (7, 9 and 13 hours each – I know, I waited and worried in the waiting room with her husband Lee, whom she lost last year) and still continued to laugh, smile, spin, do yoga and keep all her friends smiling. She was a walking buddy whom I met in 2001 when I walked the Flying Pig Marathon with her. Since that time we’ve walked and talked for miles and miles and miles. And she’ll be missed by me and so many others. — I love you Allison. Thanks for your friendship and for the laughter and sunshine you provided me and all your friends.

What friends are there for YOU when it ‘storms?’ Share below!

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