circle of friends

As I was dusting around my tchotkes getting ready for a shindig with a circle of new and interesting friends, I pondered my pieces of real art that I paid good money for.  Now, my living room is full of art-y stuff that I love- needlework that I've done in a previous life, kid creations, even some beautiful photographs- all of which I sometimes dust around and often gaze at with happiness.  There are just a few things that I've bought from real artists and paid for more than frames.  This fabulous blue sculpture I bought just after Rebecca was born at an art fair in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  It's three people dancing in a circle holding hands.  I even left that $44 price tag on it- money certainly that had another purpose in that time of my life.  I loved it, I was with a friend, I bought it.  Another favorite is the green stone of some sort sculpture I bought at a 10,000 Villages (or whatever it's called now) sale at church.  This one is 5 people arm in arm in a circle.  When I light the tea light inside, it's almost pagan.  When I look at these sculptures I feel complete.  I don't think about wanting more, needing to do more, going in circles in this crazy life.  I feel complete.

What is about the circle that appeals to me?  Or maybe it's the closeness of the people.  Maybe it's the touching- sometimes dancing, sometimes holding up, sometimes just enjoying each others' company.  I think about the camp mentality.  Who are your closest friends ever?  The ones you lived with.  I loved my college dorm.  I loved having a best friend in the same room as me, and friends I could drop in on unannounced.  If I had something stupid to say, I could just say it.  There was no phone call necessary.  We could hang out whenever we wanted to.  I spent hours in the "sock lounge".  We'd play games, just chat, whatever.  At the time these people were more important than anything else.  It's like marching band in high school.  You spend so much time with people that dumb band jokes and songs become a cult. 

How do we recreate this in adulthood?  Well, one way is the weekend getaway.  Last winter, I went on a "quilting" getaway.  The four of us joined this existing group of close-knit quilters.  We made our own little click- I think only one of us quilted.  We did whatever, including watching Pride and Prejudice too loudly and playing games, my favorite Bananagram where my goal appeared to be making as many dirty and offensive words as possible while giggling.  But this was a special weekend of getting to know each other better- not quite like college- but closer than before and since.  Another appears to be the soiree.  Hence the reason for dusting tchotkes.  In a moment of weakness, I agreed to host tonight's get-together.  All people I'm just getting to know in person.  Many of whom have never been to my home, which is decorated early trash heap.  So, part of me worries about that.  A much bigger part of me is excited for the circle of friends talking, laughing, sharing crazy stories, holding hands and dancing (figuratively).  It's ok if the dust bunnies join in the circle.