Girls Night Out

 Snow was falling thickly as I headed out into the evening twilight.  It came unexpected as I had been cocooned indoors oblivious to the world outside.  Away from books and games, I headed out, my footsteps muffled by the snow beneath.  The world was quieter, glowing in the dusk and snow, with few cars braving the roadways.  But we were on a mission, so off we went into the still-falling snow.

 I gather the snow was unexpected because the plows had not been out.  We left tracks through the ever-deepening snow and tread carefully.  Then, brushing off our snowy outer garments, we gathered for an evening of good food and friends.  We are all moms, all connected(mostly) through school or hockey.  Our children range from not-quite-three to on-the-cusp-of-leaving-home.  Conversations were mostly light, but important matters like dating and diet were discussed.  We laughed, not as uproariously as sometimes,  but even in more serious discussions, we had fun.

 This discussing, being together, a meeting of women who are all in different stages, with different ideas, values and life stories is so crucial to making it through.  The responsibilities of wife and mother can way heavy at times.  To sit, share, listen and gain wisdom is how we can make it through.

 We didn't solve the problems of the world tonight, but we did share our burdens a bit.  Now we return through the snow to our homes to reclaim our twin mantles.  And soon, we will meet again for a break, a reconvening, a discussion of books, children and spouses on what we call Girls Night Out.