Among My Betters

After returning from New York, the girls and I went to La Maison, a local French restaurant in Augusta. Housed within the walls of a restored 1853 Southern revival mansion, La Maison’s lounge is the perfect setting for the fostering of friendship. We sat on Victorian sofas under enormous prismatic chandeliers, enjoying one another (and a shared slice of chocolate mousse cake drizzled in raspberry sauce). Moments like those remind me of what Lewis once said about friendship. (We had everything that evening but our slippers…)

"In a perfect friendship love is, I think, often so great and so firmly based that each member of the circle feels, in his secret heart, humbled before all the rest. Sometimes he wonders what he is doing there among his betters. He is lucky beyond desert to be in such company. Especially when the whole group is together, each bringing out all that is best, wisest, or funniest in all the others. These are the golden sessions; when four or five of us after a hard day’s walking have come to our inn; when our slippers are on, our feet spread out towards the blaze and our drinks at our elbows; when the whole world, and something beyond the world, opens itself to our minds as we talk; and no one has any claim on or any responsibility for another, but we are freemen and equals as if we had first met an hour ago, while at the same time an affection mellowed by the years enfolds us. Life—natural life—has no better gift to give. Who could have deserved it?" CS Lewis, The Four Loves

Not too long ago I read this…

Every woman should…

Know how to drive a stick shift and how to use a plunger.
Understand the difference between “don’t tell a soul”

and “don’t tell a soul, I mean it.”
Know her mind and change it.
Use special china and special underwear for no special reason.
Know how to over commit, come through, and refuse to do it again.
Be able to discuss first and ten.
Have better things to do.
Set boundaries.
Grow something.
Dance crazy all alone.
Stare at a phone.
Get dressed in five minutes.
Be a princess.
Get over it.
Read. Walk. Flirt. Shock. Listen. Sing.
Thank God.
Be single or married and like it (a lot).
Raise a child (or not).
See a wrinkle and be reminded of her youth, not her age.

(and my response was...)

Every woman should have a friend like…

Emily, to teach her how to drive a stick shift,

set boundaries and shock.
Holly, to teach her how to use special china, grow something,

stare at a phone and sing.
Kristin, to teach her how to use a plunger, come through,

discuss first and ten and read.
Melissa, to teach her how to use special underwear,

dance crazy, be a princess and flirt.

Veronica, to teach her how to know her mind,

never tell a soul I mean it and listen.