Dear Reader:
Even if we Ya’s were all magicians … we, nor anyone else… can stop the hands of time … as each retreat comes to an end, this stark reality becomes more evident… and we find ourselves staring at each other… the unspoken question left lingering in the air… do we have another retreat… but then determined we hold hands and are filled with gratitude for this one and consumed with hope for the next!
And each year we realize what an unique bond we have lasting over half a century from our freshman year at Erskine College… pretty mind-blowing.
Libby found this true story of the special bonding between female elephants… so touching!
When a female elephant is about to give birth all the other female elephants surround the mother… hiding her and the impending baby from sight. As the baby is delivered, all the other elephants kick sand at the baby to protect it’s sensitive skin from burning from the sun.
And then comes the celebration… all the female elephants begin trumpeting as joyfully and loud as they can … announcing new life into the herd.
If the worst happens and a predator ( tiger, Lion) enters the tent… they wish they happened … they can be met with up to 40 female elephants attacking… most are happy to have survived the attack. )
As the author of the story… concludes ” That’s what we do girls” !!!
How indescribably blessed I am to have my four undying friendships who closed rank around me this past week and lifted me higher than imagined possible.
As Libby found in our initial Ya friendship pact… ” A Ya Ya is never farther away from needing and helping another Ya … always within her reach! ”
Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh
I leave still frail but hope and happiness pervade my being.
Returning to my oncologist Wednesday … hoping I will receive new strategies and new hope to get my strength retired!
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
🥰❤️❤️🙏🙏 ….beautiful story…praying for you Becky…
Mrs. Dingle you certainly are blessed to have friends like your Yas! It’s amazing to me that you all have been this close to each other for close to 50 years! I have friends from High School and from College but we aren’t as close as you all with the Ya Yas. A couple I see more often than others we still go on Friday nights to see the Mighty, Mighty, Green Wave play football. Another group of just the guys meet for lunch once a quarter. But we don’t check on each other, though I tried! I personally think what you and your Sister Ya, Yas have is a bond like a New Mother has with a newborn. As if you were all born to each other your Freshman Year in College. What an amazing show of love between you all. A bond that will never break and I would say one that will last an eternity!
Hope you are still feeling better! Your only job to try to feel as good as you can while we, your readers of your writings let God know we want you well again, better than before! We got your back as it is said