I’ve been blessed the last couple months as I haven’t had the opportunity to get with my friend Debbie Finney Sutton for lunch or even dinner. My sister and I haven’t been able to even walk because of my work.
But as Larry got sicker and passed away, I found myself becoming closer to Lisa Marie Bird and her son Joseph. I’ve gotten to know her friend’s Tracy and Niccole who will be moving soon. We’ve been able to have ⭐GIRLS NIGHT FRIDAY“ Wine Night, Porch Truth, and Real‑Life Girl Time After a Week of Chaos”
This event has brough Real Women. Real Friendship. Real Life into my life which I needed.
More times than not Girls Night Friday isn’t about fancy outfits, expensive dinners, or picture‑perfect moments. It’s about connection, laughter, truth, and breathing again after a week that tried to take you out.
And after the week we’ve had — Hobart, the engagement, the goodbye, the tiny truck, Walmart, the new phones, the cleaning marathon, the rearranging, the donation run, the exhaustion — Girls Night Friday is not optional.
It’s necessary.
Because women carry the emotional weight of the family. We carry the schedules. We carry the worries. We carry the love. We carry the chaos. We carry the “I’ll handle it” moments.
And Girls Night is where we finally put it down. Girls Night doesn’t always have to be just girls more times than not when Lisa Marie Bird and I get together for a glass of Wine David is with me and has a Beer out by the Pool.
Sometimes Charlie comes to hang out with Joseph. Or Charlie and Bradley come to get Joseph to go walking and ride the golf care and end up sitting out by the Pool and the adults move inside once Nicole ventures over from her home.
⭐ 1. THE GIRLS NIGHT CREW Every family has their people. These are not only mine but Charlie and David’s as well.
✔ Lisa– my ride‑or‑die. My Wine Night sister. My “come sit on my porch” friend. “I’ll listen without judging” friend. Your “I’ve got a pool if you need to float and cry” friend. Or the friend I can send the kids to when I need to work.
✔ I am the storyteller. The glue. The one who holds everyone together. The one who needs this night more than anyone realizes.
✔ Whoever else wanders in– Because Girls Night is open‑door, open‑heart, open‑chair to anyone anytime.
⭐ 2. WHAT WE BRING TO GIRLS NIGHT
Girls Night isn’t about what’s on the table — it’s about what’s in the air.
But here’s what usually shows up:
- A bottle of wine (or sweet tea, because we’re Southern) or Water because were trying to be good
- Snacks (healthy) most of the time
- A blanket sometimes because Lisa likes it cold like David which Larry and I hate.
- A chair always
- A story or 5
- A sigh
- A laugh
- A moment
- A book or more
And that’s enough.
⭐ 3. THE PORCH TRUTH MOMENT
Every Girls Night has one.
It’s the moment when:
- Someone finally says what they’ve been holding in
- Someone cries
- Someone laughs too hard
- Someone admits they’re tired
- Someone admits they’re scared
- Someone admits they’re proud
- Someone admits they’re overwhelmed
And the porch holds it all.
Tonight’s porch truth?
“This week was big. And I’m still processing it.”
Because:
I wasn’t allowed to watch my son get engaged. I watched Charlie step into adulthood. I watched him stay behind. I came home and cleaned like I was preparing for a magazine shoot to keep busy and so the tears didnt fall.
David dealt with the phone company or tried to, but I had to intervene. I told David and Charlie how to rearrange half the house. David didn’t make dinner and neither did I. I didn’t rest and I didn’t stop so David couldn’t as well.
And now — finally — I get to sit.
⭐ 4. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT TONIGHT
Girls’ Night conversations are sacred and they may take place at Lisa Marie Birds or the American Legion. But here’s what’s on the table tonight:
✔ The engagement: How it happened. How you feel. How proud you are. How emotional it was.
✔ The goodbye: The hug that wasn’t a hug. The drive away. The quiet afterward.
✔ The tiny truck: Because we’re still laughing about that. As we thank Lisa Marie Bird and Larry for this gift that has become a part of our family.
✔ The Walmart run– which is a restroom stop for us but I also wanted to see what they had for Mother’s Day. Because every family trip includes Walmart.
✔ The new phone disaster– Because of course that happened this week. Twice.
✔ The cleaning marathon– Busy hands keep the tears at bay and because chaos always waits until I’m tired.
✔ The rearranging– Because sometimes moving furniture is therapy. Charlie isn’t here to say leave things alone.
✔ The exhaustion– Because I’m human and a parent and Hobart are a long way from here for my son to be.
✔ The love story– Because this is Chapter One. Lord help us.
⭐ 5. WHAT GIRLS NIGHT GIVES US
Girls Night gives us:
- Permission to rest
- Permission to feel
- Permission to laugh
- Permission to cry
- Permission to be honest
- Permission to be messy
- Permission to be human
It gives us connection. It gives us community. It gives us strength.
And after this week, I needed all three.
⭐ 6. HOW TO HOST YOUR OWN GIRLS NIGHT (FREE OR CHEAP)
Because not everyone has a Lisa — but everyone deserves a Girls Night.
✔ 1. Keep it simple– Snacks. Drinks. Chairs. Porch. Ask everyone to bring something.
✔ 2. Keep it real– No pretending. No filters. No pressure.
✔ 3. Keep it open– Let people come as they are.
✔ 4. Keep it safe– Just like Las Vegas whats said on the porch stays on the porch.-
✔ 5. Keep it warm-Blankets. Candles. Soft lights. Soft voices.
⭐ 7. TONIGHT’S GIRLS NIGHT PLAN (OUR REAL PLAN)
Here’s what we’re actually doing:
- Sitting on the porch
- Sipping something cold
- Talking about the week
- Laughing about the chaos
- Crying about the goodbye
- Celebrating the engagement
- Letting the dogs wander
- Letting the night breathe
- Letting ourselves breathe
This is Girls Night. This is healing. This is home.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
