I recently read a study that said fun is more fun when it’s shared with friends.  While this may be something we know instinctively, scientific validation is always reassuring.  Now when someone in your group asks “Are we having fun yet?” you can roll your eyes and point to the data.

Thus, it was the seduction of Fun X 4 that motivated me to contact my 3 BFFs and suggest a Girl’s Night Out.  That, plus the fact that I would soon be gone for seven months and not have the pleasure of their companionship.

One would think that at this stage of our lives, with fewer demands on our time, finding a single evening when the four of us might be free would not be difficult.  Well, if one would think that, one would be dead wrong!

Instead, what ensued was a chain of emails filled with very complicated negotiations that did finally result in, not only a date night, but peace in the Middle East.

I share with you a small portion of the experience.  Only the names have been changed to protect the not so innocent.  And maybe just a slight adjustment of the actual facts.

To:  Meg@abc.com, Jo@def.net, Beth@omg.org
From: Amy@tmi.dot
Subject:  Girls’ Night Out

Hi, my three best friends.  It’s been too long since we’ve been together.  How about planning an evening, just the four of us, before I fly south for the winter.

From: Beth@omg.org
Subject: Girls’ Night Out

Great idea! Let’s do it!

From: Meg@abc.com
Subject: GNO

Count me in!  We always have such a blast.  Why do we wait so long? We need to make this more of a priority in our lives.

From: Jo@def.net
Subject: GNO

Was thinking the same thing myself.

From: Amy@tmi.dot
Subject: GNO

Great! So let’s set a date.

From: Meg@abc.com
Subject: Setting a date

Rest of this month not looking good for me. Have Book Club, Cousins’ Club, Bridge Club,  and I might need root canal.

From: Amy@tmi.dot
Subject: Setting a date

Okay, let’s look at next month then. I’ll still be here and dates are pretty open.

From:  Jo@def.net:
Subject: Setting a date

Next month is good, except for the second Tuesday, fourth Friday, and forget Saturdays. And on the 4th, I need to prepare for a colonoscopy.

From: Beth@omg.org
Subject: Setting a date

I have a tentative business meeting on either the 5th or the 8th so I need to leave those dates open. And my daughter may be flying in on the 11th and staying until the 15th – not sure, but need to keep that open, as well.

From: Amy@tmi.dot
Subject: Setting a date

Still have 18 possibilities. Let’s wait to hear from Meg.

From: Amy@tmi.dot
Subject:  Setting a date

It’s been 4 days since our last email. Anyone hear from Meg?

From:  Amy@tmi.dot
Subject: Meg

Did Meg leave the country?

From: Meg@abc.com
Subject:  Setting a date

Sorry for the delay, guys.  Doesn’t mean this isn’t a priority. Let’s see. I’m already double-booked for Wednesdays, so how about the first Tuesday or any Sunday?

From: Jo@def.net
Subject:  Setting a date

Not Sundays!  It’s the final season of “Homeland.”

From: Beth@omg.org
Subject: Are you lame?

Haven’t you heard about DVR-ing?

From: Jo@def.net
Subject: Homeland

It’s not the same!

From:  Amy@tmi.dot
Subject: Back to Setting a Date

Surely there has to be one night in the entire month when we’re all free!

From:  Jo@def.com
Subject:  GNO

If I change the date of my colonoscopy from 17th to the 23rd, and skip my ukulele class, that could free up next Tuesday.

From:  Meg@abc.com
Subject:  Next Tuesday

Maybe.  Not sure.  Have to check with Harry.

From: Jo@def.net
Subject:  Next Tuesday.

Who’s Harry?

From: Meg@abc.com
Subject: Next Tuesday

He teaches Yoga and does privates on Tuesday night

From:  Amy@tmi.dot
Subject:  Setting a Date.  Not!

Well, guys, I think that does it for this year.  And I’ll be gone half of next year as well.

From: Meg@abc.com
Subject:  Next year

And I’ll be gone for the rest of the year.

From: Amy@tmi.dot
Subject: Setting a Date

So how’s 2020 looking so far?

Okay, so I exaggerated.  Fact is, it wasn’t easy, but we did finally set a date.  And it’s coming up soon.  I have my fingers crossed that Harry can be flexible, the ukulele class gets cancelled, and no one has an unexpected visit from a third cousin.  Would hate to go back to the table for more negotiations.  But who knows? Perhaps in the next round we could also settle North Korea.


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