Friendship Endures
by Candace Turner

Four young women, friends,
four bottles of wine,
sat together on a dateless Saturday night
devising a plan for their old age.
As the wine bottles emptied,
fantasies multiplied.
Laughter bounced off the bedroom walls
as each of us designed our dream.
All agreed to a villa in Tuscany
surrounded by nature's beauty
rolling hills and vineyards.

I brushed potato chip crumbs onto the floor
And added my must haves…
Good food, excellent wine.
Days spent with books, afternoon naps.
Occasional men permitted, but
they must be able to cook,
promise to make coffee,
and leave quietly in the morning.
Our housekeeper, will be a culinary marvel,
Speak very little English, just
enough to ask our preference, white or red Signores?
Every other day, the four of us will link arms and journey to the market.
Purchase fresh flowers, ripe red tomatoes, soft figs, hard cheese,
fragrant garlic.
Our hair will grow wild, long and grey.
Bodies soft, skin loose, laugh lines noticeable.
Comfortable, colorful clothes.
Underwear a thing of the past.

What no spa, hair salon, manicures, pedicures?
Not sure that will work for me piped in Nancy,
seconded by Joanne.
I reassured them…in Tuscany we won't give a hoot
About any of that.

Irene, our scholar slurred her two cents worth.
In Vino Veritas
And further more my bottle's empty,
Me too's all around.

I reach under the bed,
pull out a half empty case.
We'll hate ourselves
when morning greets us with
walloping hangovers but tonight is ours.

Years flew by in a blur of laughter and tears.
Marriages, divorces, children,
heartbreaks even death, but
our friendship remained strong.
Now, in our 70s and once again alone.
We meet monthly in our favorite restaurant,
Mangia Toscana
Raise our wine glasses and toast each other.
Remembering when our youthful schemes
Held such promise.

Dreams may die but friendship endures.



 


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