Girls’ Trip | Sedona, Arizona
We met in second grade in Livonia, Michigan. Bound by fate, a group of five girls who joined the group one by one. Through the years, we bonded in twos and threes, each individual relationship grown through the teenage years, then college (Go Michigan State!), then adulthood.
We have held each other’s hands through high school sports, college parties, marriage, divorce, motherhood, and grief. We now live in four different states (Mal and Em in Michigan, Sarah in Montana, Steph in Maryland, and me in New York.) We have nine children between all of us (eight boys and one beautiful girl!)
We made a vow to try and get together once per year for our annual girls trip, and this year—the year we all turn 40—we chose Sedona, Arizona!
It was honestly a miracle that we all arrived by plan—all flights came in on time, and I received the most Instagram-worthy airport hugs. Sarah came from Montana and rented a car to pick us all up at the Phoenix airport. We all piled in and got on the road—a two hour drive to Sedona. And though there were changes—the car was fancier than Sarah’s high school Explorer—we were transported back in time, riding in Sarah’s back seat while the songs from our high school days played in the background.
We settled in as if nothing has changed in twenty years, and I heard myself laugh in the deep, gutteral chuckles of sixteen-year-old Staci.
There are some memories that you can feel adhere themselves to your brain as they’re happening. Some people that were placed into your life that cement themselves as part of the foundation of who you are. We might have families and fancy jobs now, but I was sixteen again this weekend. I can’t wait for next time!
