Girlfriends

I just can't put my finger on it. I've been trying for a week to get just the right word for it, but have come up short.

So here's the long version: last week I flew back to Seattle for a getaway with my friends. These women started out as my book club, but have evolved into my close friends. We do more than talk about books (lots more, in fact). We eat well, we play well, and we like to travel together. We don't travel far; just far enough to get away from it all. (Sometimes it's to each other's homes). We've gone to Victoria BC, and to Leavenworth Washington. We've also gotten away to Lake Cavanaugh, and took a detour through the tulip fields on our way there one time.

This time we went to Leavenworth. Leavenworth is an alpine-themed tourist city on Highway 2 in Washington, about 2 hours out of Kirkland. One of our group has a time share type property that she generously lets us share with her. We started out eating breakfast close to home at Maltby Cafe. Mm, mm they have good breakfasts. Then we drove to Leavenworth - the drive was beautiful, and dogwoods were everywhere. I almost got carsick from my head swiveling back and forth quickly so as not to miss a single tree.

The great conversations start in the car, and don't stop until we're back home.

Once we get to Leavenworth we poke our heads into a couple of shops, but mostly walk around and talk. Then when the condo is ready, we go there. We unload all the food, the games, our suitcases, and the fun really begins. We play games, we eat, we watch the occasional movie, we eat, but most of all, we talk, talk, talk. That is what I love. My husband is my best friend, and I wouldn't trade him for anything, but there is something about women understanding women that is different. We look at the world differently, and we face crises differently. These women have had their fair share of crises - unemployment, death, cancer, tumors, illnesses, trying children - you name it, they've faced it. And together we are all stronger because of it. It's why I keep going back so I can travel with them . Not just to fun places, but through our joint experiences in life.

Here's the word I was looking for: Replenish. In the thesaurus you will find these synonyms: fill, freshen, refill, refresh, reload, renew, restock, restore, supply.

Thanks, Crazy Ladies, for replenishing me last week.