This last Saturday my dear friend Susan G. and I went to a Lavender farm… about an hour ’s drive from where we live. We had been planning this adventure for awhile… as we both love Lavender… and I have been to several Lavender farms that were first rate… and had an awesome time. I wanted to share this with Susan.

We stopped and ate at a country cafe… ( we had heard they had the best pie in the world… and badly wanted some ) … strolled through shops and enjoyed the perfect Fall weather. I even suggested we leave the cafe and come back for pie later…  so we wouldn’t be late getting to the Lavender farm… to cut our own Lavender and browse the gift shop there… which I had anticipated would be stocked with the sweet and lovely smell of Lavender. And I could see in my mind the huge bundle of fresh picked Lavender that we both would come home with… after all… this is what I had experienced at the other Lavender farms I have been to… and I expected the same or at least similar experience at this farm. And frankly… I wanted to show Susan a great time that day. Susan works very long and intense hours at her job… and her time is valuable… and with my busy life also…  running my business, seeing clients and being a mom and wife…the time we both had created to take a day off and go play  was special and important to the both of us… and  I wanted our visit at the Lavender farm to be perfect.

Life being the way life is…this Lavender farm wasn’t perfect. You could only pick a small amount  of Lavender in the field and the products in the gift shop were old. I felt no energy there. I felt disappointed, to be honest. After that fleeting moment… I thought to myself…  what part of me feels like I had to make this outing perfect? And even deeper… what part of me still thinks and feels… I have to be perfect? In front of a good friend?

This morning… I understand clearly that going to the Lavender farm with Susan… wasn’t about having a perfect experience or picking Lavender, or me having to be perfect or her either… for that matter.

It is about friendship.

And what that truly means between women. At least between Susan and me.

When I am around Susan, we can we talk about everything and anything… as women often do when with their friends. I am able to share my concerns, my fears and my opinions openly. And I know Susan will always listen… no judgment on me for speaking my truth… or making me feel wrong.  In a world that now strives for being “politically correct” and “spiritually correct”… Susan is just wonderfully human. But with an angelic quality about her. She opens her heart, and is in the moment. She’s like that, so real, and honest and authentic. And out spoken. She has a way at looking at life and being in life… that feels well… downright feel good… and yet wise. I always feel like I have learned something about myself and life after being around her. Like I can take off a mask. And be human. And did I mention how funny she is and how much I laugh when I am around her?

She is special… and a blessing in my life.

Our outing wasn’t about it being perfect, or expectations… it was about two women 50 “something”… being free for the day… and laughing like young school girls again. It was about getting lost in back roads ( we really did ) and really not being concerned about where we would end up… or not… we were up for any adventure. It was about creating a memory… a wonderful time spent with my friend Susan… and really cherishing the friendship and bond I have with her.

It was and is about two women…. traveling the journey… with its ups and downs… tears and joy… getting to that place that is real…. authentic and true… a place where you can let the real you out… wrinkles and bad hair included…  and where venting, disagreeing and being a grump at times is welcomed. Because we are human… and also more than that… we are two women trying to live from their hearts… sharing their feelings,  speaking their own truth, valuing life, and appreciating the gifts that friendship brings.

Together we are Just being real friends.

And girls just wanting to have fun.

Thank you Susan…. I owe you a piece of pie!

Love… Victoria