i had lunch with a bunch of women i used to work with today. i typically don’t hang out with a lot of women, and i kinda’ like it that way. but…being a woman, i need that (sometimes intense) female interaction. it’s strange to say it.
if you’ve seen an olive garden commercial where a bunch of women are gathered around the table chattering and cackling away, you saw us at lunch today. everyone was excited to see each other and to be able to catch up. one woman has met a man who might be “the one.” another is expecting her first baby. and another has her first grandchild on the way. while this may not mean much to most people, it’s so fascinating to observe other people as they progress through life. i’ve known most of these women for at least 2-3 years now. apparently, alot changes in those years…particularly with women.
i suppose watching them makes me reflect on my own growth and progression. since they’re older, i see a lot of what i have to look forward to, as well as many things i should avoid. my latest milestone was graduating college, and i can’t even think about having children now. marriage will come in time with the man i’ve been with for 6 years. i feel no pressure in that regard.
meeting with them will help me grow too. they all have their own advice on how i should handle the things i deal with… for instance, i’ve had a hard time knowing how to deal with my mom. for a long time, i thought she was just crazy. my boyfriend has contested that, but i didn’t truly believe it until today. as i described my interactions with my mom to the other women, they reinforced my man’s idea that my mom just has a different personality. the women called it “a++” which indicates she’s very outgoing and tends to want to be the center of attention. and it finally hit me that i just need to understand the difference in personalities.
as much as i don’t like spending excessive amounts of time around women, i need to in order to grow. they have a lot to teach, and i have a lot to learn. and that’s the more introspective part of my personality… 
of course, at the end of the meal, we all promised that we’ll get together more often. we like being around each other, but i’m not sure how well that would fare on a regular basis. like i said, i prefer not being in that social group too often…just enough to satiate my female social needs and to learn a profound lesson or two.
