“Watch out, this rock is slippy.”

This comes out of Amy’s mouth, as we are winding our way through El Yunque National Forest. We have all turned 50 this year, and have come to Puerto Rico to celebrate and reconnect.

Growing up in Pittsburgh, we are proud of our own special words.  Slippy for slippery, gum bands for rubber bands, and dippy eggs when they are over easy, to name a few. And there is a lack of pretense, openness, and honesty, with this group. This group of 7 is down-to-earth, kind, and easygoing. “I think I have to poop and I’m kind of worried,” was said before we started on the trail.

The last time we took a trip together like this was when we were 18 and went to Ocean City Maryland, filled with memories that we still have never told our parents. Other than my family, I’ve known these girls, now women, the longest. We have a collective memory, and we all remember different things.  I am reminded of slathering Amy in baby oil to bask in the sun, and she burnt to a crisp.  And about trying Skoal smokeless tobacco at Marne’s house and then throwing up over the balcony.

At times, we’ve gone decades between connecting. But the connection runs deep. Here are a few details in number form about our shared lives, both current & past.

0: The amount of make-up that seems worn on this trip, except for our 1 special night out. There is ease and comfort and no need to try to impress; there is acceptance in spades, just as we are.

1: The number of us who don’t go by a nickname in this group. Poor Dawn, it’s just because your name is 1 syllable. The rest: Aim/Reem, Jaim, Lease, Trace, Marn.  And I’m Jewel/Jewels.

2: Graduated to menopause. There is talk about foggy brains, dry vaginas, sleep, and hot flashes.  We get right to the important things, and there is something really helpful about talking with a group of exactly same-aged people about age-related things.

3: Live in the vicinity where we grew up.  The others are in IL, NC, AZ, and PA. The town’s populations range from 2.5 million – 14,000.

5: Dye our hair. 3 of us do it to cover the grey.

5: Scars exposed.  This seems important.  We knew each other before many of the challenges life threw at us.  The scars are the physical display of some of these hardships, but we talk about many more. Scars showed: breast reduction, shoulder surgery, a dog bite, a broken collar bone, and a meniscus (knee) fixing.

6: Had perms. So many perms.

7: Books open at the beach. 6 fiction,1 non-fiction. All are paper. 1 from the library, 1 from a used book shop. This also seems important.  None of us are trying to squeeze in work; this group knows how to soak in a vacation vibe.

77: The percentage of humidity in the 89 degrees. Some of us sweat more easily than others and have ever since high school. Thank goodness for the air conditioner and the fan that can be worn around the neck.