Day 163 - What I'd Like to Say to You (Girls Trip Style) in These Foolish Things

• You kept a huge secret from us on our last trip to Mexico in 2023. This time, you wanted to talk about it. I’m so sorry your husband asked for a divorce. I’m even sorrier that he was having an affair with the neighborhood ho. You knew she was up to no good - always flirting with the neighborhood husbands - you even warned all the wives about her! They took your warnings with a grain of salt, even though that woman was only friends with the guys and never made an attempt at friendship with any of the neighborhood wives. Your own son noticed that, “she’s not a girls girl!” The funny thing is, all the neighborhood guys said she was annoying and pitiful. And yet, your husband is now in a relationship with her! Ugggh. I HATE that for you. I hate that it has dimmed your light a bit. But I love the relationship you’ve built with your kids - it’s clearly very strong. Your daughter edited our videos along the way during our trip and made a fun TikTok for us! But please don’t make them the center of your universe, like you did at our dinner one night. Your daughter seems a little manipulative, keeping you on the phone with her because she was uncomfortable when the ho was hanging out in the house with your ex. I know you were calming her down, but you missed most of our dinner. I get it, I do, but she’s going to have to travel her own path soon. Still, we are here to support you, and I can’t wait to see you later this year. I’m glad you’re the voice of reason in our group. You keep us from going off the rails with your calm and steady voice and actions. You are also an ally in my sobriety when the other girls get drunk and stoned. I will forever be grateful now and in the future. I love you and want to spend more time with you to help you heal your broken heart.

• You told me your side of the story when you came to visit me in [my city] last Fall, but I only heard bits and pieces of the other side. I have to be honest with you, your side didn’t make a lot of sense, and now I see why…you were B.O.D. (black out drunk) and then hungover the whole time when it happened, so of course you really don’t remember the event. You passed out at the bar and had to be taken care of, and then you were completely useless and hungover the whole next day. I heard the story directly from one of the horse’s mouths before your flight got in, while we waited for you at the airport. I know you’ve since made up with everyone, but I gotta be honest with you - you were having big issues with alcohol. And you’re not even the one I was worried about! During my last trip to visit you last year, we met up with another old college friend. She mentioned that she remembered you as “always angry” and it upset you terribly. You didn’t show it at the time, but later, you were stewing. The pieces are finally coming together, and it took me by surprise because you have done some amazingly generous things for me over the years. But I noticed on this trip that you do seem at least a little bit annoyed at all times. And there were several instances where you were downright snippy with me. I was happy to be able to be the designated driver on this trip, but you were beyond annoyed when I asked for the keys after we’d already agreed hours earlier. By the end of the trip I was walking on eggshells around you. I love you so much, but I’m worried about you.

• You weren’t supposed to be on this trip. You’re apparently going through some changes in your life, so when one of us saw you out and asked you to join us on this trip as a simple courtesy, knowing you’d say no…you threw everything off kilter because you accepted! And then you threw everything off kilter again because you went to our location two days early and started our trip without us! That was strange on so many levels. We wondered why you were sending us photos early - selfies of you on the top of the rocks we were planning to climb and you out shopping in the boutiques we’d scouted. Like, wait! And you kept asking if you could get into our Airbnb early. And what is the plan?? The plan was to all do this shit together, bitch! Why are you throwing the whole thing off? But when we finally arrived, two days later, it was all good. Sure, it took us a bit to warm up again. After all, you haven’t joined us on the last four or five trips, so. Where’ve you been? You didn’t share much. We know you’ve had some troubles in your marriage and you’ve had some health issues, but we love you nonetheless. You were the quietest of all of us. You didn’t understand all of our inside jokes, but you quickly caught back up. I don’t know if you’ll come on future trips, but you are welcome to join us. Just, can you wait so we can all go together? Half the fun is getting there, you know.

• You. You precious woman. You are the one that everyone can’t help but love. You are JOY inside and out. You are naturally stunningly beautiful and graceful without trying one bit. People are attracted to you no matter what you’re doing. You are perfect and you have no clue, and that’s what makes people love you even more. But not everyone is good, and you have a tendency to let yourself be misled or even run over sometimes. You were born with a silver spoon and there are those who try to take advantage of that. You seem to take everything in stride, but deep down, you are a little insecure. Still, you make me laugh so hard. All I have to do is look at you. Remember last time in Mexico when we both peed our pants at the same time? I love you so very, very much. A few girls have come and gone from our trips, and they are almost interchangeable. But not you. Our trips wouldn’t be the same without you. You are essential to this group. You are essential to my life.

• And YOU! You surprised me the most. Even though you weren’t always on your best behavior, you and I got along smashingly! You were the one I was worried about. But I think you knew that. I never did have that blunt and heavy conversation with you because I didn’t have to. I have broached wanting to talk to you no less than six or seven times, but we’ve never had a direct heart-to-heart verbalization. Still, you knew what I meant when I told you that I’ve been working on my tact. And you really knew what I meant when I bought a pyrite stone at the crystal shop to symbolize assertiveness. And you listened closely when the medium told me that the archangel Gabriel was present to help clear my throat chakra. We were able to communicate so much better on this trip! You’re still a crazy bitch and you still got high as a kite, but you knew not to fuck with me and I knew that all you wanted was more love and understanding and less stonewalling. I gave you a softer spot to land, and you were so much more gentle with that landing. I am proud of us both. I love you and can’t wait to see you again.

I love you all so, so much,
GS