Ladies Who Lunch

I am having lunch next week with someone who was a dear friend of mine in the past. I had troubles, she had troubles. They were spaced over different times and quite different in some ways, but very much the same in others. It was a long time ago and the details of everything probably don't even matter much to either one of us anymore. I concluded long ago that I behaved, for the most part, like a self-righteous boob at a time when I should have been supportive and patient. She did right by me when it really mattered. I didn't do the same. I know that I let her down in ways that were tremendously hurtful and I've been ashamed about that for a good while.

Now we plan to lunch. This is significant, not in its planning--for the invitation was extended and accepted very spontaneously, likely surprising the both of us a little. The significance of it lies in our shared understanding as southern women of what lunch means. In this particular case, it means that my southern sister has shown the forgiving grace of accepting the intent behind the invitation. It means that, even as many things have changed and will continue to do so, we will meet and share a common comfort in the familiar patterns and nuances of a ritual observed by generations of women before us. We began our friendship with lunch. I am grateful to be able to lunch again.