Laura is the stalwart. She is always a riot, always up for a laugh and a drink. She was the first person I befriended freshman year and we stuck together all four years. I count her among on of my closest friends to this day. We can go months without seeing each other but immediately slip back into our usual banter. We bicker like sisters, make fun of each other, laugh our heads off and support one another. She and I used to drive to and from college together during school breaks and we still seem to find ourselves carpooling for hours on end. The only thing that can make 7 hours of traffic bearable is laughing and talking smack about the old days with her.
The mother hen: Michelle. In college her room was like an oasis, a stocked fridge, candles lit, calm music playing and she always offered sage advice. Her room was where we went when we had a problem, when we needed to escape the chaos of dorm life or just to chat and get some peace and quiet. As adults she is the organizer, the one who keeps us all in touch, who helps orchestrate our visits. She greeted us all this weekend with personalized notes, letting us each know individually what she appreciated about us and our friendship. For years after we graduated it was Michelle who would compile all the happenings in our lives and sent out a “Rosie Newsletter” updating us all on engagements, promotions, new homes, and any news going on in our circle of friends.
Lynn is the chameleon. In college she looked like the shy, sweet quiet catholic school girl, now she looks like the patient and reserved mother of a one year old. However, what is always so surprising about Lynn is she manages to say the most outrageous things. Just when you think you’ve crossed the line and said something totally scandalous she tops you. And she has the ability to sneak up on you and stealthily out creep you. With her you never see it coming, one minute she is there smiling sweetly, the next she is blowing your mind. We roomed together this weekend and in our otherwise lovely suite was a weird set of crow statues. Several times throughout the weekend she managed to sneak up on me and startle me with these damn birds. Of course when I went to pack up my things one of them was in my bag, the other sat perched on my laptop.
The quiet one: Lisa. Again, this one can be deceiving, you think maybe she’s not really listening, she isn’t fully engaged, then she says some funny aside or one liner that lets you know she’s in on it and she’s been listening the whole time. She will say a line from a private joke you had 10 years before, she will remind you of a hilarious and embarrassing story you thought everyone had forgotten.
The kid sister: Katie. Katie is Lynn’s younger sister who also went to school with us and is beyond hilarious. Having the Packuska sisters together is always a good time, and Katie always manages to keep things a little more classy. When we start to slip into total obnoxiousness she helps elevate the group. It doesn’t hurt that she also has a wicked sense of humor and is a fantastic story teller.
And I guess I am the joker, or as Lisa said to me as we got into the car, “You are a one woman show, you do realize that?” I am perhaps a wee bit too loud, I like to make fun of everyone, and myself. When my friend Michelle proposed a toast and spoke sincere, heartfelt and kind words about our gathering I was the one who snickered, “WAIT! Are you crying?!!!” fast forward to a half hour later and I was the one proposing a toast that I was barely able to articulate due to the fact I was full on crying, which then of course turned into maniacal laughing at how absurd I am.
The third person: Michelle’s partner Christy. She went to college with us but was two years behind us and she is the one who will tell us we are insane, her laughing combined with an incredulous head shake only spurs our lunacy along further. Having someone who knows us but can step outside and look in is rather entertaining to have around, she is the one who said, “You’re drunk” after my tearful speech, and she is the one who will remind us we are being obnoxiously loud in the restaurant. She is almost like the narrator of the story, she can step back and comment on the insanity going on around her.
We went to dinner, drank too much, reminisced about the old days, caught up on the present day and what was going on in everyones lives...drank some more. Plans for Karaoke and dancing were abandoned in favor of going back to the Inn and hanging out in the suite to gossip, laugh, and of course drink some more. We stayed up way too late and I talked until I almost lost my voice, just like we were in college all over again. The next morning we all had breakfast together at the inn before setting off in various directions. For over two hours we all listened as each of us opened up about where we are in our lives at the moment. We talked about Lynn’s job, how challenging, exhausting and heartbreaking it can be to work with troubled children and how difficult it is to leave it all behind when she gets home to her husband and toddler at night. We spoke about Laura’s husbands hospital scare a few months back and how she juggled 3 young children while battling her fear and anxiety over what may happen to him. We discussed Michelle and how she deals with Rheumatoid arthritis on a daily basis and how she balances a heavy work schedule and her health. Lisa talked about packing up her home and moving in the midst of her job giving her more responsibility and the stress piling up while she raises two young children. And sadly our other “Rosie” Colleen was unable to join us for the weekend because her Grandmother had just passed away. As I listened to the struggles they face on a daily basis, the stress they carry I thought to myself, “I will never complain about working in retail again.” I was in awe of how these girls I met in college had grown up to be such amazing women, how they handled life's stresses and pressure with such grace and humor. I was proud of and impressed with each of them.
Finally after much reluctance we realized it was 20 minutes past checkout and we said our goodbyes. Laura and I got in the car and as we pulled away from the inn and left the weekend behind she commented, “Wow, we all have adult problems now, big girl issues.” She’s right, we all have our issues, we all have times of stress, anxiety, and fear. We all are short on time and spread too thin, however, I am so very happy we all were able to put the real world aside for a weekend and take the time to come together to laugh, reminisce, and support each other. Virginia Wolf said, “Some people go to priests; others to poetry; I to my friends.” Is there anything as comforting, as familiar and as reassuring as old friends? I hope my other “Rosies” found the weekend as restoring, entertaining and ridiculously fun as I did.
I love it. It sounds like an amazing weekend with amazing women. I wish you all every blessing.
Posted by: Robin | 07/21/2010 at 09:56 PM
WAIT, I am crying! I love you Mandy. I love all of us together. I have started my post but not made the time to finish and post (I am in VA for work again) and now it is going to seem like I am totally copying you! I'll stick out like a green thumb!
It was a wonderful weekend and we will make this happen at least once a year.
Love you and that cherry!
Posted by: Michelle | 07/21/2010 at 10:24 PM
Totally sobbing...not only because of your beautiful summation of the trip but because I love you and the other Rosies so much cause you are always there! No matter what...we're like Bruce's Blood Brothers...to be totally cheezy. Keep up the great work and I will always have your back beotch! xoxo
Posted by: Laura | 07/22/2010 at 08:35 AM
Great post! Love you!
Posted by: Pooh Bear #1 | 07/22/2010 at 12:08 PM
Great post. Love you too.
Posted by: Eileen McCorry | 07/22/2010 at 10:13 PM