Because your girlfriends will lay in bed with you, holding you through your sobs. They will bring you flowers on a random Wednesday. They will laugh and take ugly pictures with you just to crack up till your sides are splitting. They will hold your hand or hook arms, a strong beautiful army ready to take on whatever battle that day brings. That battle could be anything and it doesn't matter. They will come in your room and do your hair for you when you have lost all motivation to function. They will take you shopping, encouraging spending a whole paycheck on gorgeous lacy underthings so that you feel special no matter what the world is throwing at you. They will see your tears welling up during class, grab you and leave class to "dance it out" in thier room. Coming back breathless but giggling. Girlfriends fly home with you because you are moving and scared. Girlfriends know your starbucks order and your allergies. They wax your legs for you. They hug you past that awkward tense moment, letting your tears become part of their shoulders. They will understand that certain sights, smells, sounds are a trigger and will grab your knee under the lunch table, a quiet unspoken "I am here".
When I see young girlfriends, teenage girls, wives and mothers, and old wrinkly girlfriends I always smile to myself. It fills me with warmth because there are fewer happier sights than a group of friends giggling and laughing together. Or sitting and crying, holding each other. Because guys dont have that same experience. Their friendships are wonderful in their own ways but Girlfriends, now that is beauty.
I am so ready for some "girlfriend time" this weekend.
Having some old Circus Hall girls come visit reminded me of this, a creed that one of our fellow Circus Girls wrote:
My circus ladies aren't just any group of girls, we are women. We are women of esteem and power. We are females who fight the fight and win the war. We are sexy, daring, and confident. We have honed our skills in the art of sociable society to a fine razored edge. We are dancers, writers, teachers, and some of us are learners. We are lionesses of the trade, yet lambs of the Father. We are beautiful, sensible and downright strong. We build one another up, only to tear down the ones who try to come between us. We are believers, we are givers, and we are receivers. Our sorrows are justifiable through He who strengthens us. And our weaknesses are his strengths. We are lovers, defenders, leaders, and followers. With eyes and hearts wide open, we take life by the horns and ride it through. We are daughters, we are sisters, we are friends... we are Circus.