Book Club: The End

Today I met with my book club for the last time. Hearing the term "book club" might conjure different ideas than what it actually is, or has been, to me these past seven years.

I met Sig, Divine M, Ang and Andrea while working at a domestic violence/sexual assault agency. We were all avid readers and time and again we'd be swapping books or suggestions. I don't recall which one of us brought up the idea of a book club but we all jumped at the idea.

Over the years the group has morphed. We aren't as stringent as we were at the beginning- some of us don't always finish the book and sometimes our conversation about the book goes waaaay off topic. We meet about every month, taking turns at each other's houses. We bring food and we talk about our lives more than we ever talk about the book. Everyone gets a chance to "check in" and share what is going on for them.

As the years have passed we have watched each other cry and laugh, give birth, get married, lose a loved one, fall apart, succeed and be challenged. . .and now, move. Book club is a safe place for me- warm and accepting and loving. These women have been consistent champions and inspirations to me. I am going to miss them more than I can say. This amazing group of women will always be dear to my heart.

I'll get to see them one last time. They are planning a little ritual to send me off. We'll gather and talk and eat and laugh and cry. That's how we've always done things. There might be another book club in my future but it will never be like this one.