We are nine well-traveled women sitting in a circle in a stranger’s backyard

at the top of a late-summer hill

reflecting on the world we left behind for a day

feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude

and appreciation for this moment

in this wonderful, and sometimes too chaotic life

All have walked on distant beaches,

felt the sand between our toes

stood at the base of a giant redwood

cooked with color, exercised our bodies and our minds

and read books that have changed us

We’ve felt the power of first love,

said I love you in the moment

held someone’s hand through sorrow

shared uncontrollable laughter

and gone road tripping

We’ve all found ourselves lost at times

but today we are found,

feeling a powerful connection to nature, the great outdoors

and something greater than ourselves

our lives now intertwined, new friendships cultivated by a local bookseller

and a belief in that simple truth, revealed by Anne Frank,

that people are really good at heart

despite everything

by Marie, Donna, Theresa, Jami, Sharron, Sheri, Susie, Dianne, Kathy