It has become a ritual, celebrating our birthdays by "doing lunch". Today Sheila is the birthday girl and we have gathered at Pumpkins Pastimes to celebrate her day. What a lovely spot.. a little tea house with a large antique shop right next door, enabling us to take part in our favourite pastimes, shopping and dining. First, a little shopping. I bought the cutest little silver bell "thing-a -ma-jig". I have no idea where or why I will use it, but I quite like it. I also purchased two lovely tea cups with flat bottoms. We girls.. we sure can shop. Then into the tea house for lunch.

I don't remember how this part of the ritual came about, but we always adorn special head-wear for the occasion. Often these hats are rather unconventional. Today they consisted of crowns obtained from the dollar store. Picture this if you can.. four mature women eating in a public restaurant wearing outlandish hats. It always makes us laugh and usually causes a bit of a stir with fellow patrons and staff. The hats do not stay on for very long.. but obtaining a photo is always a must.

We are old and comfortable friends, having known each other since our high school days. I feel so very fortunate to have been able to share so much of my history with these women. We have seen and shared it all.. school, marriages, children, careers, and now grandchildren. The afternoon sped by as we ate and, once more, caught up on our daily lives.

The next birthday in our small group does not happen until December. This is far to long a wait to get together.. so we are planning a luncheon for the end of October. On the way to the car I thought I heard someone say, "So if it is not a birthday celebration.. does that mean we can forget about the hats?"

Ah, how good it feels, the hand of an old friend. ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

We are probably thought of as 'regulars' by now, the four of us. I wonder what they think when they see us coming. Do they inwardly smile, wondering what strange head paraphernalia they are going to be witness to, or do they hold their breath knowing that one of their tables is going to be tied up for a least 3 hours.

Entering the Transcona Golf Club, I find that Jennifer and Sue have already found a table. Jennifer is wearing a large red Russian looking head band that actually looks very attractive on her. It is immediately apparent that this is a clue as to the theme for our soon to be required hats. The conversation is instantaneous and engrossing. It is not uncommon to have two of us talking at once as we attempt to catch up on our latest happenings. We fill our coffee cups as we wait for Sheila to arrive.

This is a special brunch. Not only are we celebrating Jennifer's birthday but it is also the month that she is retiring. My eyes are focused downward, taking in pictures from her recent retirement dinner. Suddenly over my shoulder I hear a voice...
"It is you guys! I thought I recognized your voices! I have been sitting over there (pointing across the room) waiting for you to show up."

Our laughter and exclamations fill the air as Sheila pulls out her chair and joins our table. Almost immediately the "winter hats" (for that is our theme today) are pulled out and placed on our heads.. a little begrudgingly as none of our hats look quite as fine as Jen's. Our server is kind enough to snap a picture but ends up having to take two, as Sue, while trying to adjust my chapeau, ends up pulling it down over my face, covering one of my eyes just as the first flash goes off.

There is much to talk about today. One of us is retiring, two of us have children planning weddings and another is soon to be a grandmother for the first time. Words fly as stories and happenings are exchanged.

Filled with a sense of contentment (and slightly buzzed from too much coffee), I sit back and gaze at the smiling faces of my friends. Listening to their voices and the laughter, I try to capture the moment and its essence. I want to always remember this sense of connection and friendship that I am blessed with today.

When the world is not being quite so kind, I will bring it out and hold it close.