Day 17: Birthday Friendship

The Birthday celebrations continue... oh my gosh I'm going to be huge with all the luncheons, dinner's and cocktails being showered upon me for my 50th Birthday! Whew!

It's been so fun and I feel so grateful to have such wonderful people in my life that want to shower me with affection (and food & drink!).

Pictured here with me is gal pal Nancy Ross out on one of my Birthday celebrations!

Truly the greatest gift in life, other then your health, is the company you keep. The people you choose to spend your time with, share your lives with, and celebrate milestones together.

It's been one festive event after another and I thank you all for reaching out to me to spend time with me, honor me and celebrate how fabulous 50 can be! I'm feeling so good today!

Day 355: Aries Baseball Mom's

I adore my baseball Mom's. That's right, my baseball mom's. These are the women I spend HOURS with in the stands. Schmoozing about our son's; tracking the game activities; gossiping a bit about anything; I mean the games can run over two hours, some three times a week so seriously, you have to have some bonds to chat the hours away!

I had lunch with a baseball mom today to celebrate our shared Aries Birthday's. Too fun to talk about our boy's, their talents, their weaknesses, what the future could be for them... I'm grateful for these ladies.

Can you imagine if you didn't bond with your baseball gals how long these game could be! Today was another game, thank goodness a victory for our Palisades Team. Life is sweet.

Day 282: Nothing Like Old Friends

Tonight two of my oldest and closest friends came over for a visit. I have known Farrel Freeman and Jill Offer since I was 13 years old.

We attended middle school and high school together; were college roommates in San Francisco together; experienced our parent's get divorced together; lost our mom's together; shared boyfriends, girlfriends, marriages, and life together for more than 30 years.

This year we all turn 50! Wow.

There is nothing quite like an old friend who has known you for so long ... they know your history, how you grew up, your family dynamics, your quirks, your secrets, your dreams & aspirations.

Oh the crazy stories we shared as kids, stories none of us would want repeated today. We've gone through loss, and broken hearts, career changes, child birth... you name it! And it never ends. As we all enter our 50th year we face challenges, reflections, and thoughts about how we want to spend the next 50 years of our colorful lives.

One thing is a solid, we will travel this next chapter together.

Day 272: Dinner with the Girls

Had dinner tonight with two Mom's from college boy Brandon's high school days! What a treat. I adore these gals, but with life as chaotic as it is for us all, we do not get to see one another as often as we'd like. I find that true for most of my wonderful friendships.

Lina Fabrizio is Ricky's Mom, one of Brandon's high school chums and Michelle Simon is Matt's Mom one of Brandon's pals from the Pacific Hills baseball team.

All our son's are turning 20 this year ... where have those years gone? The boys are all in college, the road has not been seamless, as is true for many adolescents who struggle to find their niche in this world.

As parents you attempt to raise your children with the tools to conquer life, some they adopt, others they reject. Raising children is an endless journey ....

So us Mom's had fun catching up, eating, drinking our wine, talking about everything from our husbands to sex to parenting.... no topic was left untouched. And that's what us gals do, we share, bond, communicate ... it's refreshing too to be in the company of honest friends who don't sugar coat life...

Life has blemishes, and warts, and sometimes it's ugly, being able to recognize that and share our thoughts and emotions with other terrific women, is very cathartic. To all my wonderful girlfriends who are challenged with their marriages, their children, work, weight, family, what ever the poison may be today, know that we all go through it, and we are all on the ride together.

Day 206: When A Friend Needs You

I cherish my friendships. Always have. And I take them seriously. I also give a hell of a lot to my relationships. I mean I really give. Of my time, energy, love and compassion. That's why if I feel you don't show me the respect and mutual love that I believe a friendship requires to be successful, then I move on. I have way too many people in my life and not enough time to waste it being in the company of those who I believe have either "dissed" me, not treated me right or basically don't give a damn about me. I give too much to be in this type of relationship.

Another quality I have is loyalty. I have written about my loyalty to people, vendors, friends, and family before on my Blog ... I stay forever... if you are a soul sister or brother, you'll have my heart forever, but not if you treat me wrong. As I approach 50 I have evaluated a lot of relationships ... those that don't offer me anything, have been dropped. I feel like it's an honor to have me in your life. And for my true, dear friends they are cherished and honored in my life.

I received a call today from a friend I met more than 30 years ago when we both were enrolled in an internship program in Washington, D.C. during our junior year of college. She was from New York, me from Los Angeles. She was an Italian Catholic, me an LA Jew. We bonded then and it's lasted all these years. We had our first child the same year. Her son is now a sophomore at University of California, Santa Cruz, mine at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. We both went on to have two more kids... I flew to Berkeley to attend her baby shower and she returned the love to me by flying to Los Angeles during my campaign.

She left a voicemail message today for me. After listening to it I had a pinge in my stomach. Something wasn't right. Her voice didn't sound like the soulful, joyful voice it had always been. This friend was so committed to our friendship that during my campaign for City Council in 2009 she flew to Los Angeles with her teenage daughter during the GOTV (Get Out The Vote) part of my campaign to walk precincts and cheer me on. She wanted to show her daughter a real woman's champion.... I couldn't have been more touched. I had friends here in LA that didn't show up for anything, yet here was a person who flew into town to be with me during one of the most significant times of my life. That says a lot about the character of a person and about our connection.

So today when I heard her voice I knew something was up. When I called her back I reached her voicemail ... I left a message saying I was worried... she sent me back an email saying that she was en route to pick her son up from school, but indeed she was in a funk, and asked how the hell did I know? I knew because that's what friends do. They know when a friend is hurting.

When was the last time you checked on those you cherish? If it's been awhile you better get a move on!

Day 122: Palisades High School Mom's

I hosted a Palisades High School Baseball Mom's gathering at the house tonight! Too fun to visit with the gals outside the baseball field! It was really nice to get better acquainted with the Mom's especially as my teenagers Harrison & Spencer have become very friendly with many of their sons.

Friendship and camaraderie are so important to us women. We cherish our friendships and enjoy meeting new smart and sassy women.

We talk about our lives both the ups and downs, our marriages, divorces, boyfriends, dating, children, baseball, college, food, work, exercise, weight ... you name it I'd say we can cover it in our conversation. It never gets old or stale that's for sure. Men are always amazed at how much we can talk, and talk and talk! But I love it!

Thank you to all the lovely ladies who joined me for spirits & yummies and wonderful conversation! For those Mom's who couldn't join us tonight, next time you gotta get in on the fun!

Day 91: ReConnecting

There's something very comforting about being in the company of people who share a history with you. That's why I treasure long lasting friendships.

During my campaign I had many highs and equally as many lows. The wounds are still raw for being let down by certain people that I expected more from while the joys from the wonderful people I met during the campaign and people I reconnected with continue to be my fondest campaign memories.

One such special encounter was when I attended a candidate's forum in Encino. What a surprise I had when a woman tapped me on the shoulder and when I turned around there stood a childhood friend who I had not seen in years. We lost track of one another not because anything had happened other than time and life. When I saw her my heart filled up with happiness that after all these years she cared enough to attend the event to support me.

This friend was Caren Horowitz Kaplow. She and my big sister Michele and I were like sisters growing up. Our Mom was like a Mom to her. We shared some wild times in High School and beyond. Her and Michele were roommates during college and we shared all our Holidays together. Many years had gone by. We have all gotten married, had children and created very full lives. Ever since this encounter we have picked up where we left off. Funny how you are able to do this with people you share a history and bond with.

Since our reconnection we have been making up for lost time by spending time together with our families, playing Rummicub and laughing a lot.

The story even gets better as Caren has also reconnected with an old High School romance, Terence Duffy, and the two of them are now an "item". We all grew up together and can't believe the turn of events in our lives ... As they say what goes around, comes around.

Pictured here are Terence & Caren. Two beautiful smiling faces.

I am grateful for old friendships and thankful that despite all the bumps in the road we have all had to travel we are back in each other's life!