Girls Gone Wild

This past Monday Barb and I got together with our friend Nicole, the girl Barb refers to as The Conduit.  Nicole introduced Barb and I years ago and we just hit it off.  Over the years the three of us girls would get together to hang out and drink, but we would also discuss politics, our dreams, and how we want to live our lives.  It was always inspiring to be in the same room with Barb and Nicole, and I’m happy to report that it still is.  Our visit was short (4 hours) compared to previous times, but it was SO worthwhile.

We met at Nicole’s parent’s house.  Nicole had flown in from her new home state of Colorado to attend a conference, and Monday night was the only night that worked for all three of us.  We hung out on the patio overlooking the canyon and caught up on each other’s lives.  The best part?  When the subject of having babies came up, Nicole dodged the bullet so smoothly!

We know Barb’s not having babies, and we know I am.  Nicole, however, has been on the fence with the subject.  She’s working in education now so her increased exposure to children I think has caused her biological clock to tick louder than before.  In fact, I proclaimed that Nicole would be pregnant by the end of the year.  Barb about had a heart attack.

I know Nicole has her concerns about being a mother; the physical exhaustion that comes with creating a life, the emotional ups and downs that come with the hormonal roller coaster and the psychological impact on both parents when you are responsible for another person.  But she also has that look in her eye when she talks about having a baby.  That look of wonder and amazement at what it must feel like to help mold and shape, guide and inspire the next generation of people that will make the world a better place.

I wish Nicole the best on her journey for the next year, and although I’m sure she’ll have a baby I’m also sure that if she doesn’t she’ll be fine with that, too.  It’s been interesting to watch her perspective change from hesitant to anticipatory, and I’ll be in the bleachers with my popcorn to see what happens.  I know her husband is more freaked out by the proposition than she is, but know that she’s open to what the experience will bring to her life.

As for Barb, I’m not sure how she’s gonna handle it.  If both Nicole and I are FWKs, that might be enough to push Barb over the edge and cut us off.  Or maybe since Nicole is out-of-state it won’t make a big difference.  It’s fun, though, to be sitting on the mommy side of the fence and Barb on the CFF side, hanging out watching Nicole teeter from side to side.

Only time will tell…