There can never be enough shoulders to lean on....

When reading through my submissions for "The Friendship Project" I couldn't help but choose these ladies first to present to you. Angela...the hottie on the far left....told me all about her friendship with these ladies (and one missing who moved away!) that has spanned over 25 years! I opened her message at work and stood there and cried. Somehow, she portrayed to me in a couple of paragraphs exactly the type of friends these ladies are. (You will read her submission in a bit). On an everyday basis there is a whole lot of laughs, humor and wine! And when needed...a lot of shoulders to lean on and strength to depend on.

As Gina and myself spent a few hours with these ladies, we soon realized that we were going to laugh the whole time! But, who doesn't love inappropriate jokes, hand gestures and teasing each other? We had a few that the nerves got the best of, but after a few chugs of wine that was stock piled in a few different mini vans....we proceeded to have a really great time!

As you grow older, I think you realize what's really and truly important. You think you know at 25 what and who you can trust and depend on. But, as for me by almost the age of 40 I now KNOW who will be there...and who will not. I KNOW who I can call my friends and who are just acquaintances. These ladies have been so very lucky to know since middle school that any one of them just need a phone call and will be there instantly. To help through failed marriages, deaths, births, heart aches, disappointments and anything else life has thrown their way.

"You have been my friend replied Charlotte. That in itself is a tremendous thing" E.B. White

(Kinda cool that one of these lovely ladies is named....Charlotte!)

Two of these lovely ladies are real life sisters! When you are around this group you would never know who those two are because all of the girls joke and love each other like any one of them could be blood related. But, here's the two that have known each other the longest.

When I asked what these ladies like to do together this is the response that I got:

"We normally have the best times when we at one of our houses.... going out is fun, but home tends to get cray cray".

I am being rude and extending an invite to myself for next time one of these in home "Cray Cray" sessions happen! Don't forget about me! (just kidding..maybe!)

When I was trying to figure out something to tie in middle school with this shoot, I of course thought of Rave hair spray first, then figured none of them had big hair anymore. So I nixed that idea. Secondly I thought of bubble gum. I have had children play with blowing bubbles during shoots a few times and it was always a blast. How hard could it be with adults right? Wrong! As you can see below...it was quite the challenge to get 5 adult women to blow a bubble at the same time. Although, it made for some great out takes!

"Real friends don't get offended when you insult them. They smile and call you something even more offensive."

I need to thank Angela, Charlotte, Tammy, Amy and Kristin for going along with all of our wacky ideas and I know that arranging 5 families schedules so that you could come and play with us for a few hours was not an easy task! We appreciate it more than you know. Your sistership (friendship doesn't do this arrangement justice), is one for the record books and one that is honestly inspirational to all women out there. It's a kick in the butt that some people may need to get out there and call those friends, don't loose touch, make an effort to stay involved with them and their families. The best way to a woman's heart is through her children. Love them like your own and you will show her how much her friendship really does mean to you!

I will leave you with the submission that I got from Angela. I dare you to read it first of all and not tear up, and secondly..nothing more really needs said about this group. She asked how she could change it or make it more of "What I was looking for"...I told her to not touch a thing! As you will read..it is absolutely perfection.

"When you're 12 friendship is who has the best clothes and biggest bangs...fast forward 25 years and friendship is who has weathered the storms beside you. It transforms from "do we really have to bring your little sister" to being a backbone when that "sister" looses her husband way to young. From celebrating one of you following dreams although selfishly you hate the fact she's moving away, to getting your asses on a plane just to hug her. From finding the right words to say when a baby is harder to create than one should deal with to wishing those babies would go to the hell to sleep so we can have inappropriate conversation. Sleepovers that go from being cuddled by your crush to realizing one of the littles crawled into bed and thinks you're mommy, you play the role just to keep her comforted. It's the houses you feel at home enough to poop in and not apologize and the families that become your own. I could never imagine my life without these girls, and I only wish that if I had a daughter she would find this bond. We are not friends, we are family."

As always:

Hugs,

Joyce