OK - confession time.  It took me a long time to realize it, but for the first half of my life I was a crappy friend.  Basically my every thought was about a boy.  I was lucky enough to have a few great girlfriends that put up with my crap, but looking back I don't think I deserved their love or friendship.  There was one girl in particular that I owe immense gratitude to.  Her name is Lisa.  We moved to California from Texas when I was 9.  Take an awkward southern girl and transplant her right into the heart of southern California and what you've got is about as compatible as ketchup on ice cream.  Most of the kids in elementary school thought I was a sideshow act, but not Lisa.  She took me into her circle immediately.  She was beautiful and smart and talented and very popular.  She didn't need me in any way, but she was just one of those truly genuine, loving people.  When the other popular girls were mean to me, she took me by the arm and we found something else to do.  She was - and still is - amazing.  One night I was sleeping over at her house and she admitted that she had a crush on a boy.  I'm still not sure why I said it, but I claimed to have a crush on the same boy.  We giggled and didn't talk about it any more that night.  Although I hadn't ever really looked at said boy that way before it became my quest to get his attention.  Competing with my own best friend over a boy?  Seriously sad!  I won out and he and I started "going together."  Lisa's reaction?  She was over the moon for me.  Do you want to hear something really twisted?  I did it again to her a few years later with a different boy.  Pathetic much?

In high school I had a group of three other girls I hung out with.  One of them was helplessly in love with her boyfriend of 2 years when he decided to end things.  She was devastated to say the least.  We all hung out in the same group so she was forced to spend time with him after the break up (which must have been excruciating).  I flirted with him!  One night we were at the high school watching a movie on the football field and I let him kiss me.  She was right there!  She left with the other girls, but I stayed behind to cuddle with her ex-beau.  After a few more of my shenanigans the girls finally decided they were through, enough was enough.  At the time I was devastated!  How could they hate me so badly?  What had I done?  Looking back now I'm not sure how I avoided getting a right hook to the face.  I deserved much worse.

I'm in my 30's now and, although it's taken me entirely too long, I've finally learned my lesson.  Girlfriends are an essential ingredient to any woman's well-being.  My husband is a saint, and my kids are amazing, but there are things I need that only a girlfriend can provide.  So - without further adieu - here are my top 5 reasons why girlfriends are an essential asset.

1. PMS.  They get it, they don't judge, and they always bring me a Coke, Snickers, and Midol.
2. Sometimes you want to watch a mushy chick flick and not have to worry about someone seeing you cry.
3. It's so great to be able to compare notes, and collectively decide if certain behaviors are "normal".
4. It is essential to have someone tell you when you're being a bitch, but it's hurtful coming from a guy.
5. True girlfriends don't care if you have the best clothes, latest hairstyle, or lots of money.  They love you for you.

This blog is a safe place to air my feelings anonymously.  So - anonymously - thank you to all the girlfriends I've had in my life (past and present) that have put up with me.  I hope I enrich your lives as much as you enrich mine.  And to those girlfriends that I have rated a D+ at best, I am so sorry it took me so long to get it.  Thank you for everything.

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