What Did I Miss?

Wednesday last I embarked upon a girls' trip to Savannah, Georgia with a few close friends. 

There's four in our non-club.  We swell the ranks on occasion with any combination of eldest daughters had by three of us.  We call ourselves Earth Divas.  I'm the junior member and relative newcomer as the other three have known one another for years upon years.  But as a collective, our association began well over a year ago.  As we wade ever deeper into year two, the common bond which links our very individual personalities continues to strengthen.

I'm fairly certain that Godly bond is a straightforward combination of food and laughter and a desire to care for our families while expressing ourselves through the passions which drive our talents.  When one of us forgets we are talented or tires of the foot race in this life, the others rally with a proactive persuasion which cannot be denied or ignored.

Today I returned home after five days gone.  Two on the road.  Three fully engrossed with my ladies.  I haven't laughed so long and hard in years.  Sustained, ear-wrenching (don't ask) gut-busters which left us crying for more.  We walked and we talked.  There was touring and coffee pouring.  You know about the food.  Some of us slept.  Some of us slept and uttered fascinating guttural exhalations.  Some of us sneezed like wolves.  A couple of us were renamed.  We played our low key version of mah-jongg.  And, there were pictures to upload and Facebook statuses to update and comments to be made.

No TV.  No radio.  No news.  Limited telephone.  

A killer tornado took 30 lives in parts of Mississippi and other areas.  The validity of pot for profit was written up in The Wall Street Journal.  4th brother, John, is again in his local news because two people quit their positions under his leadership.  My husband and son rearranged the living room furniture.  The dog either put on a few pounds or is experiencing sympathy bloat with me.  And, the first hydrangea blooms are opening after the heavy rains yesterday.

I missed all that.  But I didn't actually MISS it. 

Because I discovered I throw back my head when I laugh.