December Daily: 19th

For the past ten years, I've been going out to dinner once a month with five girlfriends, no husbands/boyfriends or kids, just us. We call it supper club, and it usually falls on the third Saturday of the month. In ten years, we've had three weddings, six kids, two (soon to be three) relocations, at least six new homes, six or more promotions and new jobs...we've had our share of tough too.



We don't really have a system for picking restaurants or any rules about what types of places are ok, except that we usually pick somewhere our husbands/boyfriends and kids wouldn't necessarily want to go. We've been to all kinds of restaurants - fancy places with gourmet food and gold-flecked ice cream (at that restaurant with the snooty waiter who was irritated that we split dessert; where was that?) to street vendors. We've gone to Symphony on the Prairie, more festivals than I can name, ArtSparkle, and eaten all types of food.

In addition to monthly dinners, about six years ago we started taking an annual weekend trip in August or September. We've been to Las Vegas, Traverse City, Saugatuk, New Buffalo, French Lick, and Saugatuk again this year.

With the exception of Las Vegas and French Lick when we stayed in a hotel, we've rented great houses, and our schedule goes something like this: Friday night - cocktails at the house (thanks bartender Wendy!), dinner out followed by lounging, talking and reading magazines (thanks Kendy!). Saturday morning starts out with a delicious breakfast out, then shopping, sight seeing, maybe getting a manicure or pedicure or visiting a winery, lunch or at least drinks and snacks at a bar, lounging/napping/reading back at the house, then dinner out and more lounging before bed. Sunday morning is another fabulous breakfast out, then maybe checking out local farmers' markets before getting on the road. We go to bed when we want, we get up when we want, and generally do whatever we want.

But the food and the trips are just just excuses for the six of us to get together, have fun, and reconnect with each other. Although our daily lives pull us in various directions, we always pick up right where we left off, and each of us knows the other five are in her corner at all times. Ladies, you're all blessings for which I'm very grateful!