(no subject)

[mamculuna]

Tonight was really lovely. I have a group of women friends who've been meeting as a group regularly for at least 20 years, and also individually, and some of us much earlier than that. Tonight they were at my house for supper. We've seen each other through deaths and births, marriages and divorces. Right now is a good time--peoples' children are having weddings, babies, jobs, whatever. All of us I think feel a sense of the job being done, in a way, and ourselves set free. I'm the only one who has retired, but neither the oldest nor the youngest (ages span at least 20 years).

Tonight the conversation turned to abortion (which several of use have had, though not me--but I've had a miscarriage, which is similar and different in big ways) and how the world will change if Roe v Wade is overturned. Some of us were "footsoldiers in the sexual revolution" but others were married as virgins. Some had had abortions, others not. One remembered her Catholic mother telling her she could not come home pregnant, and I remember my mother's kindness to a possibly pregnant 15-year old me (she handled it better than I would now, and think of her generation).

Food was wonderful, and flowers--white camellias, yellow forsythia, the last daffodils in vases. Good wine, good times. Friends are the icing on the cake of life.

AND they liked my pink wall:

Comments

[deevalish.livejournal.com]

The pink wall is really cute! I also love the two chairs byt he coffee table. Very nice!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

It's surprisingly traditional for me, but we've both inherited a lot of stuff. Thanks!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

It's surprisingly traditional for me, but we've both inherited a lot of stuff--the chair behind the flowers was carried out of the Chicago fire by my husband's great-grandfather. Thanks!

[midnightsjane.livejournal.com]

What a lovely, tranquil looking room. The pink wall is perfect.
It's such a gift, having friends who have been there for so much of your life. One of the truly wonderful things about being at this stage of my life is that I have friends who I have known for over half my life, with whom I have shared all the joys and sorrows of being in this world.
Friends are the icing on the cake of life. So true.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I haven't kept in close contacts from the friends from my early days--not only have we gone in different directions physically but also with our lives. But I must have settled on one direction about the time I met most of these women, and since that time they've really been almost family--only without all the problems that can mean!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_skye_/]

The whole look is smashing!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I worried about the pink, but glad everyone thinks it works.

[rahael.livejournal.com]

Your house looks lovely, and i love the pink wall too. That's like my favourite shade of pink.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Well, it's more Victorian and feminine than some of the rest of the house, but it suits this house and the furniture that family has left us.Thanks for the kind words.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Is that your home? It's gorgeous!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

It is mine. I will admit it looks a lot better since the paint job. It's not big, but I think the builder had nice taste, too--about 80 years ago. Thank goodness no one messed up this room.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

The architecture and the furniture are just really beautiful.

*jealous*

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

If you live long enough, you eventually inherit the good stuff.

But look at the ciy you live in, speaking of *jealous*

Although when I lived in Berkeley, it was in an apartment that had prettier architecture than this...plus I could see the Golden Gate out my back window. Sigh.

Still, appreciate the compliment.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

I think I'd rather live somewhere where I could afford a beautiful home like yours than live in a city where it's me and my cats in one room together and I can't park anywhere.

But that's just me. ; )

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Well, there's plenty of places like this, in the South at least. If you went to an even smaller town, houses are cheaper, older, prettier, but I can't say much for the interaction with the people there, unless you were born there.

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know...I take SF utterly for granted when it comes to atmosphere and politics, because I get so irritated with how inconvenient and expensive it is to live in this town.

Know any places where people are pinko liberals but the cost of living is cheap?

; )

[ann1962]

Very beautiful. The fuchia(?) stair well is very dramatic. Your fireplace reminds me of ours in Connecticut. Windows on either side. Sigh. You did a great job.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

My old house had windows to the outside on either side of the fireplace--this window goes to a room now, since someone enclosed the porch. But it still lets in a little light. Where in Connecticut were you? My ex-husband's family has an old house in Kent (they moved there long before it got so pricey, though--his father was a German housepainter).

[ann1962]

West Hartford. Heh, one of our windows aside the fire place went to a sun porch. I miss that house. It was way smaller than what we have now (cost of living sooo much lower here), but it was more comfortable and cozy. Lots of memories there.

[rebekahroxanna.livejournal.com]

Your home is beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[arethusa2.livejournal.com]

It's all beautiful. I love crisp white woodwork with painted walls and wood floors. ALthough painting usually leads to reupholstering.... I have to restrain my inner decorator at times. Maybe a green silk fabric with pink strips for the chair, and a lighter slipcover for the couch to balance the white of the fireplace and get ready for summer. Plus a silver bowl on the coffee table to add some sparkle there and larger pictures for the wall and stop me now, please!

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

You are absolutely right, visually. Sadly, light-coverd couches are my nemesis. this one replaces a white one, which was great, but the cats shredded it, I got ball point ink on it, my son left foot prints on it...and reupholstering that chair would be a dream. I'll save your suggestions (and maybe just try a light slipcover).

[fraydecat.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if yu were a woman. Your profile was kind of gender non-specific. I may have missed something though. Can I pretend sometimes that you are my mentor? I have been wishing and wishing for a mentor, a female, older one at that. I only want to ask you questions sometimes or advice...tehe.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I'd love to be your mentor, but that's a humbling thought! You may find yourself being led by the blind, but I'm delighted to keep in touch and share my thoughts with whatever's going on.

My user name means "Grandmother Moon" but I came by it accidentally. It's not a very fascinating story but I'll tell it sometime. And I'm not sure of your gender either--guessing female, but maybe wrong. Why do you use "fraydecat?" Is it the cat connection?

[fraydecat.livejournal.com]

I am female. "Fraydecat" means I am a frightened little cat.
I am frightened of many things, it has stopped me for many years. I want to learn how to go after my dreams. Thank you for your response, Grandmother Moon. :)

[habibti.livejournal.com]

I, too, have a group of women that I have been friends with for the last 20 years. There is a 20 year age difference from oldest to youngest yet we have survived marriages, divorces, emigration, coming out, breakups, single parenthood, surgeries, menopause, and so much more. We only get together every few months now since we live so far away from each other but every time we are together, it's always the same and even better than I remember. I feel so lucky that I have my women and I'm happy to hear that other women have their women too!

I love your pink wall.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to know about yours, too--nice to think of groups like ours all over.