Some from a time you weren’t even a thought in your parents mind. Some based in your religious beliefs. Some you don’t believe in but do for loved ones. Some created by accident, some still a dream to be part of your future family. Some you don’t realize to be such a big part of your life until they come around and make you realize you couldn’t live with out them.
I come from a family with little tradition, not that we haven’t tried or have hope for some in the future. I think we use to have them but life changes and traditions fade. I as someone who was meant to be a 1950′s house wife love the idea of tradition….so I’ve made a few.
I recently had my annual weekend with two amazing women, two ladies that I credit for teaching me many things about life. It’s a wonderful tradition of a night in a swank hotel in the city, lots of booze (I never said traditions couldn’t include libations, in fact they are sometimes necessary), and lots of talking. The only common theme is love, so much love for one another, and honesty, pure honest conversation, nothing to prove nothing to show just 3 ladies putting it out on the table, open for opinion and thought. Since its beginning many things have happened, weddings, graduations, job changes, moves but the tradition remains. This year was a bit of an after thought, brought on by the idea of seeing a movie, plan tickets bought soon after and the anticipation of what we knew was to come hit.
We stayed at the Palace this year and enjoyed their high tea, complete with piano man Paul who refused our request for Aero Smith and Guns and Roses, saying he had to play to the crowd, whatever! I should say that before picking up Ny, J and I grabbed our party favors for the night, which some how included 3 bottles of perseco, cheese, crackers and chocolate, the usual fare for this annual fiesta! We seemed to have gone through 2 of the bottles before tea, hummm, I just don’t know how this happened. We shopped road cable cars had an interesting date at the Tonga Room (what happens at the Tonga stays at the Tonga 
), had drinks at the historic bar in our hotel (yes I geeked out on the history, Mark Twain ate lunch there and etc.., just cus I was drunk doesn’t mean I don’t love a good bit of American history). We ended with Sex in the City in bed with a jug of pre-mix Cosmopolitans, yeah we have no shame. The next day, some feeling worse then others, included eating shopping eating again and 3 hearts filled with love. We parted with plans in the works for next year, as we have a tradition.
Find tradition, big or small, it’s what sews us all into the quilt of life…too cheesy?, OK it’s a chance to drink with friends, there!)
A fine tradition, indeed!
Katie my DARLING. I am loving your blog. I am loving this different side to you – not a different personality, but a deeper, more thoughtful and introspective person that many people might not see because you’re so damn perky and happy and outgoing. But you and I know that’s a hard facade to hold up, and so this forum seems to offer you the “exhale.” I am most honored by your posting about our weekend. You say it best – the love, the non-judgment, the sharing of lives. You and J make a dear, dear posse and I am so happy to have stumbled upon this inadvertent tradition. I too love “traditions” but have called them by a different name. For me, it’s been “ceremony” – the ceremony of tea in the morning, the ceremony of preparing the bed for slumber, the ceremony of loving your girlfriends. Thank you Katie for putting life into such wonderful perspective. Just as you did so many years ago (“you mean you guys don’t really talk!?”) and again now. Love always. A