One of my favorite movies is “Same Time Next Year”, a funny, touching moving about a couple who only see each other once a year for a weekend tryst. The movie chronicles the decades they spend together, 3 days at a time, and the changes their lives go through.
In a funny way, I live that movie each November, not with a lover but with a group of girlfriends known as The Scorpios. We met decades ago when we worked together and discovered we all share the sign of the Scorpion. We started out with an annual group birthday dinner, but as each of us left the company, and even moved out of state, our reunion has typically extended to an overnight visit or even a weekend reunion. When we began the youngest were newlyweds with babies, the oldest with kids in high school. Discussions were around office politics, parent-teacher conferences, and vacation plans. Now, 25 years later, the topics are world politics, college tuition bills and retirement plans. Advice on child-rearing has morphed into swapping tips on surviving menopause.
Because we only see each other once a year, the conversations fly fast, voices overlap and shrieks of laughter fill the air. We use up every available molecule of oxygen because we have so much to fill each other in on, and so little time to do it. We don’t notice the grayer hair or the extra wrinkles until the photo album is pulled out and we flip back to the beginning. Big hair and shoulder pads in the ‘80s (come on ladies, admit it, you succumbed too!) have been replaced by dyed hair and reading glasses.
I sat back at our recent dinner in Boston’s North End and watched the faces, heard the chatter, remembered the conversations and revelations of years past. Amazingly, only two of the original members have dropped out, leaving seven of us who make the annual pilgrimage. The hugs and whoops of glee on Friday are replaced on Sunday with hugs and promises to come again next year “no matter what.” As we age we realize what a gift a friendship of 25 years is in our lives. Scorpio traits include passionate loyalty and tenacity. I would say that our tradition is testament to those traits.
Here’s to my Scorpio friends Carole, Amy, Gail, Elaine, Mary and Marylee. Thanks for 25 great years!!!
