My Steel Magnolias

A Regular Old Magnolia

It wasn't until this last summer that I can honestly say I ever laid eyes on a magnolia tree and knew for a fact that it was a magnolia. What a magnificently tall specimen of a magnolia it was, too.  Its Latin name magnolia grandiflora is so appropriate. I spotted the large white flowers first, and knew at once that what stood before me was a grand magnolia, full of fading blossoms.

  

Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the gigantic, sweet-smelling blooms were very delicate.  It must have been the end of their blossoming season because the flowers seemed to be drooping, holding themselves wide open before dropping their petals on the lawn below.  So this was a magnolia.  The green shiny leaves that surrounded the flowers showcased the flowers nicely. I'd never really given the foliage of Virginia much thought as a young girl.  Now that I have lived my life outside of my home state these thirty-odd years, I have a greater affection for everything about this place, and the people in it.

A Delicate Magnolia

My only connection to magnolias had been the 1989 movie called Steel Magnolias, featuring a group of small-town southern women who relied on each other as they faced the trials of their lives.  When the movie came out, I was a young mother with two small children dealing with trials of my own, working full-time, raising a family, and trying to make ends meet.  My family and best friends were a good support system, but over time, I reconnected with the girls from my high school.  We come from a small southern town in Virginia, and I now consider this tightly-knit group of friends MY steel magnolias.

My Steel Magnolias

Last summer our girlfriend gathering in Virginia turned into a Red Hat Society meeting.  We know we're not OLD enough, but we are silly enough to don the hats and pose for pictures.  One little suggestion of hats, and Margaret was in a frenzy to gather hats for all of us, and customize one for each of us with her daughter.  This sweet summer memory lingers with me.  I love the photographs; I love the hats; I love the girls.

We are all so grateful to have modern technology help us stay connected as some of us have scattered far and wide from the hub of our hometown.  Facebook, emails, and texts keep us updated on each other.  We have supported each other through the loss of parents, struggles with children, worries about grandchildren, the stress of full-time jobs on top of demands of family, and the challenges of relationships in this crazy world.

What a blessing to know that they always have my back.

In high school, I was a bit of an outsider.  I never managed the girlfriend scene very well.  Girls seemed so dramatic, and I enjoyed hanging out with my brothers and sisters more than getting involved in teen angst.  More recently, I have come to appreciate all of the women in my life, and have bonded with old friends and new as I make lasting connections with my female companions.  Whether we met each other through high school, college, work, or communities, we have become very good friends who can count on each other.

These Steel Magnolias have known me the longest; we have a history.  I will be forever grateful for reconnecting with them through the gift of modern technology, and for this wonderful occasion to have had face time with them.  I love them.  I just hope they know that.

Margaret and her daughter made each hat into a wonderful piece of art.