Four mothers and four daughters plus one friend from college got together for an impromptu dinner last weekend when some of our girls were home for fall break. These are the girls who have been a tight soul cluster since kindergarten and first grade, and their mothers who may have met through our children but have since forged our own independent friendships. The meal was nothing very fancy, we just ordered in Chinese food and our host poured good wine for the moms and the over 21-year-olds. But as simple as the gathering was, I was still mind-blown when we went around the table asking each of the young women their favorite classes of the semester and why. The answers: Playwriting, Adolescent Development, Finance, Soil Science, Inequality in American Education. And the discussion that attended each of these answers made my friend and fellow mom Susan, who was sitting next to me, lean in and whisper, "My God, when did our girls become such socially conscious intellectuals?" Predictably, all of the moms took lots of pictures with our iPhones as our girls ignored us, but for some reason, I particularly love this picture of my friend Janice setting the table. It's strikes me as a good metaphor for where we all are at this juncture in our lives, or perhaps at every juncture.
I do like the photo, they way she is preparing the table for the youthful cluster of girls behind her. Preparing the way, you know?
ReplyDeleteSoil science? That DOES sound oddly interesting. I don't know anything about soil!
Steve, the young woman who loves her soil science class is very interested in creating farm cooperatives in Africa that will allow people to feed themselves. It was fascinating to hear her talk about how she would apply her learning. Such excellent young women!
DeleteThis is what it's all about, really. And our girl with her plate to her chest.
ReplyDeleteDear Nancy, I love the things you notice. Hugs, sweet friend.
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