The first time my husband and I had the discussion about spouses being each others best friends, we were instantly in agreement: My spouse is not my best friend.
We're both fine with that. He has his guy friends, and I have the Cha-Cha's.
For years, I have had a core group of three girlfriends. We style ourselves after the "Ya-Yas" from the book The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. (An "outsider" once referred to as the Cha-Chas, which I happen to like better.) These women have kept me grounded and make me laugh louder than anyone I know, especially after a few cocktails. The four of us are an interesting mix of characters. We are all in our 40s, with the exception of one who soon will be. One has been divorced, another single. Two of us are married with children. One I have known since junior high. We all graduated from college; some have more than one degree. I know that if I have a question, one of them will have the answer.
I firmly believe that women need at least one good girlfriend. If you have more than one, even better. These are the women who will support you no matter what. This is the friend, who when your boyfriend breaks up with you at his apartment, will drive out there and follow you home to make sure you are okay. These are the friends who, after you have had a major operation, will work out a schedule to bring you meals and entertain your child. This is the friend who keeps sending you those inspirational, chain emails, even though you have told her time and time again that you don't respond to those things.
These are the friends that if you dislike someone, they dislike him or her too. No explanation needed, no questions asked. They always have your back and are always on your side.
I was reminded of the Cha-Chas when I saw a commercial about four girlfriends. It turns out there is a "series" of clips about these women. Here's the link to A Woman's World.
I end with a great quote that one of the Cha-Cha's sent me in a chain email:
I am only as strong as the coffee I drink, the hairspray I use, and the friends that I have.
