Friends and wine should be old

Our group of 10 college girlfriends gathered for a long weekend to celebrate not only our enduring friendship but the fact that we graduated from Mankato State University 30 years ago.

We gathered in Illinois at the lake house of one of our gems, driving in from three states.

While it was 34 years ago we were fortunate to come into each other's lives, it was as if we were back in our late teens/early 20s again. We totally overlooked the age lines and saw only the beauty of those youthful faces we wore when we were together on a daily basis on the campus of MSU.

The laughter never quit; the personalities we came to love are still prevalent. Age can't take those things away. There were many "remember whens" and the laughter would start all over again.

Of the 10 of us, the careers show our dedication to wanting to make a difference in the world. Among us are a journalist, very successful businesswomen, a college instructor, a middle school social studies teacher, a medical transcriptionist at Mayo Clinic and two interior designers.

Above all, we are mothers - we have raised 25 kids between the 10 of us, ranging today in age now from 13 to 28. Several of the kids have now graduated from college. We laughed this weekend about what we paid for tutition back in 1977-1981 - $12 a credit! And we wondered if those kids would have get togethers with the friends they made.

We spent a great amount of time on the party pontoon and even a greater amount of time eating. Sadly, we probably had enough food to feed an African village for a year.

We marvel over how a group of 10 can remain so close for so many years and wondered if we were unusual in having that great a number of close college friends.

The get togethers have been going on for 30 years - first to celebrate bridal showers then weddings then baby showers but now they are to simply celebrate us and all that we have become over time.

Our time together always ends too soon but will not be forgotten any too soon. We have new memories and stronger bonds and we all are already looking forward for another year to pass when we can see each other again.

"Count the really good blessings twice"

Thank you for these wonderful women in my life.

Amen. Amen.