A Circle Around My Heart

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There's no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com

the four of us (plus baby Abbey)

circa June 2008

Over ten years ago, the four of us gathered together with a dinner of appetizers and candy and lounged on a comfortable couch to watch an MTV awards show. We scooped queso dip and nibbled on desserts and talked about who rocked the red carpet and commiserated over fresh-out-of-college jobs and wordlessly comforted whoever’s heart needed it the most that evening.

Filled with food and bolstered by friendship, we decided to meet again the following week, quickly transforming Wednesday from Hump Day to Girls’ Night, and our “eternal circle of friendship” was formed.

Weekend nights could be spent in heels and crowded bars, conversation and laughter strained over the din of music and echoing loneliness; our Wednesdays were about enjoying each other’s company in comfort.

Ten years holds many Wednesdays, and we’ve seen our circle shrink to three and sometimes two, as our living radius expanded little by little until one of us is now living almost 6600 miles away.

Our Wednesdays have included full holiday dinners and sushi and chili cheese fries, enjoyed while sprawled across the floor of one of our living rooms. During our Girls’ Nights, we’ve admired engagement rings and taken field trips to try on bridesmaid dresses, and hung out with a friend on bed rest. Over the years we’ve exchanged hugs, Christmas gifts like MAC make-up that boyfriends just don’t know how to purchase, and tears of both sadness and joy.

With the responsibilities of husbands and some children and growing distances between us, our Wednesdays have dwindled to maybe once a month, often out instead of in, choosing a restaurant in a convenient location, like the one three of us sat in this Monday night.

Perhaps it’s the nostalgia of the holiday season or knowing that the fourth cog of our circle is awaiting the birth of her second child so very far across the oceans, but despite the ease of our conversation and the delicious bursts of spicy tuna and crumbled tempura, I felt a pang for our Wednesdays spent at one of our homes.

I miss kicking off shoes and sometimes sliding into yoga pants, opening take-out bags and spreading store-bought frosting onto ready-bake sugar cookies. I miss the conversation that emerges naturally with E! playing in the background.

I left the restaurant on Monday night, snow falling lightly onto my coat, and I realized a busy schedule shouldn't mean sacrificing time with friends, especially during the holidays.

Time and distance stretch our circle, until our fingers are barely touching, yet I know my friends are there; their presence is a part of my heart.  But sometimes that's just not enough.

I think it’s time for a Girls’ Night In.

Remember to check out Duncan Hines' website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective