(my girlfriends in the berkeley high courtyard spring of 1987, senior year)

i have known these women since i was fourteen years old… some even longer. they have seen me through events big and small: first kisses, braces, horrible haircuts, losing the spirit cup (a TRAUMATIZING experience at berkeley high) unreciprocated crushes, minor car crashes, getting drunk, getting grounded, getting lost (A LOT), cross country drives, cross country moves, international moves, getting dumped, getting cheated on, getting sick, getting married, accidentally eating a raisin, fertility struggles, having babies, getting divorced, getting myself back together. they have shared cups of tea and glasses of wine and lots of advice. they have supported and laughed and scolded and called me out and they have LOVED. and as my fiftieth year comes to a close, they have FINALLY all joined me in this decade. i am the oldest in this gang and was the first of these women to have to celebrate this onerous birthday. as each of them stepped into their new decade i breathed a little more easily and i am MUCH happier now that we are all in our fifties together. i LOVE these women.

* not all of my girlfriends are represented here… notably missing is miss margaret x0x