I 'heart' NY

I have been typing this entry in my mind since I arrived home from my New Jersey trip on May 7th. I need to write about it and it needs to come to fruition.

For those of you that don't know. I have recently had the pleasure of boarding an airplane with my daughter in hand and taking off to New Jersey. Why you may ask? I avoided that question like the plague. I went to New Jersey to visit some friends. 12 of them to be exact. I know what your thinking! How on earth does some girl from Saskatchewan know 12 people in the United States? The Internet. It is a hard enough concept for ME to grasp, never mind all of you.

The truth of the matter is that these 12 women are some of the best friends a girl could ever have. We all came together on a message board and had one common denominator. We wanted to have babies. Low and behold a large number of us wound up pregnant and we were all due in the same month. From that point forward we clung to one another. Some of us were going to be new mothers, some of us were going to be 2nd+ time mothers. But, like we all know, each pregnancy is different. We clung to one another, picked each others brains about pregnancy facts and then reaped the rewards of all these healthy beautiful babies arriving on the scene. I only wish every expectant mother could experience a group such as this.

Many moons later, all of our little ones are now three and half and we as a group of mothers are now the oldest of friends and still cling to one another. Cling, more so now than ever I think. We have endured arguments, debates, heart ships, sleepless nights, breastfeeding woes and success, losing loved ones, one little one's diagnosis of cerebral palsy and the joy of her walking for the first time, potty training....oh the potty training, chicken pox, fevers, diaper rashes, birthday's, marriages, separations, moves to Israel, back pain and a year of bed rest, one husbands deployment to Iraq, his safe arrival home, miscarriages, one gals diagnosis of cancer, the joy of a confirmed remission, surgeries, the pain of an unnecessary c-section, speech and language issues, laughter, tales of toddler hood, and even some more babies.

I avoided telling people I was going on this trip because I don't think I can even begin to explain how much we are the truest of friends. I didn't want to hear every one's baby stealing, murderous, creepy theory's about how I am being lured to NJ. Because I know that if someone told ME they were going to meet Internet friends I would think exactly THOSE things. Honestly, if I had one iota of doubt I would not have gone. I would not have put myself nor my daughter in that position.

So, aboard a plane I went. It was almost magical. It was the trip of a lifetime. But not because I got to see New York City. But because I got to meet my friends, seeing the city was total gravy, and I loved the gravy.

The only hesitation I had ever throughout the whole process was when I was standing at the baggage claim waiting to recognize someone who was there to pick me up. In those split seconds I wondered if we would actually recognize one another. After years of photograph's I should recognize them and they should recognize me. I mean, what other wacko has an infant in the Newark airport at 10:48pm? Only me, and one other lady, but that was only because she missed her earlier connection. But when I saw three crazy broads running towards me with open arms, I knew it was meant to be. Instantly, it was easy and it was free running friendship and laughter. They all loved and cooed over Addie and helped me with my baggage.

For four nights we spent time gossiping, drinking Mexican beer and margarita's (quite suiting actually since we are the senoritas!), eating delicious cookies and wonderful, yet kosher, meals.

I think one of the best parts of the experience was the fact that one of the women (who so happens to be Jewish) in our group and her husband opened their home in New Jersey for our invasion. It was one huge slumber party with a purely Jewish flare. I learnt more about running a kosher household than I probably will ever need to know, until I convert. And as much as I 'heart' the Jews, I don't think my conversion is anytime soon.

I will never ever forget the time I spent hanging out with 12 of my closest girlfriends. Nor will I ever forget the utterly fantastic chocolate cookies that Ari (the host's husband) baked for us. Yes men, Ari baked, and it was soooo goood! I am also so excited to meet the twins that Shana & Ari will be welcoming into their family in the next few weeks. I can't wait to see them sleeping in their crib that I helped assemble. Well, OK I supervised the assembly and took photos. But hey I was there. I can't wait to meet up with all of these women on another vacation.

It was bittersweet having to leave New Jersey and come home. But the best part of coming home to reality was seeing my boys. After four days they were sure a sight for sore eyes and a fulfillment for open arms, all three of them.

Don't get me wrong, I have great friends here at home too. But I think the hardest part of it all is that in a busy life with children we don't make enough time for one another. Posting to my gals on a message board can happen at any time of the day or night. It can happen whether I am dressed or have brushed my teeth. I definitely don't seem to take time out of my life to spend four consecutive days with my at home friends. Maybe I should.

End all be all, my trip to New Jersey and into New York City for a day was the trip of a lifetime. I can't thank Big Daddy enough for supporting my going. I can't thank Shana & Ari enough for being insane to have us all in their home. Live long Senoritas. Until we meet again!