One of the things that I very much miss about Columbus is my women’s group. My friend Meg put together a group of 12 women to meet once a month usually with a planned event (in the beginning). So once we hired a psychic, once we hired someone to lead a drumming circle — things like that. There are artists in the group so sometimes someone would lead an art activity. There was usually a meditation to start or finish and of course there was lots of food. (Women love their potlucks!)
The group started about a year after Abby died and it was my saving grace. In 2020 just before lockdown we took a trip to Rincon together and it was a perfect last hurrah and also a nice way to celebrate my 50th. (That’s where the pic in this post is from.) The group continues despite a couple of us moving, or otherwise stepping away, despite lots of personal changes (death, divorce, new jobs, sobriety, etc.) and the text thread is still a high light for me. (I’m hoping they decide the Poconos would be a lovely destination for another getaway!) I think Sandy came up with our name (the Wild and Wise Women), which Noah thought was hilarious. He’d say, “Did you get a little wild with your wise women? I hate that for you.” (Noah gets his sarcasm from the Friedman side of the family.)
I know that group is irreplaceable but I’ve been hunting for something similar because having that monthly touchpoint can make such a difference, especially if it’s a women-centric group that is specifically about growing/changing/exploring/connecting.
Anyway, last month I finally made it to a group something like this. These are the Divas and they’re different (it’s not a closed group, there are some men, there is a wide age range, it’s more politically minded) but it is something special. I got to host them last night, which was lovely.
One of the things I really really really like about living here is that there is so much mixed ages in the groups. In the Divas there are women in their thirties and women in their eighties. There are activists and artists. There are computer programmers and business owners. There are people who grew up here and women who are coming from the city (and beyond). The only problem with it is that there isn’t time to talk to every single person and both times at the end of the dinner I think, “Dangit! I meant to talk to so-and-so and we never got to connect!”
But there’s always next month! And that’s the thing — I know that whatever happens there’s an opportunity each month to be with (more or less) like minded women who agreed to come together in care. Even if I can’t make it one month, it’s nice knowing that it’s happening (but I’m really really really gonna try to make it each month).
Now what would be super fun is to get some of my Wild and Wise Women to visit in time to attend a Diva Dinner. Worlds colliding in the best possible way! (hint hint if any of the WWW check in here!)
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