Then life happened. One in the group moved away. Three left the group for various reasons. Two more joined. One sadly died.  But for the past thirty years, seven of us have stayed in the group which is no longer just about writing. It is now about friendship.

The “Magnificent Seven” who are still going strong have been through a lot together and we have always supported one another with love and understanding.

Through those years, we have bonded over our children as they went from kindergarten to college or university and then into the working world. There were relationships and there were weddings to celebrate. We now boast about our grandchildren.

We travelled the world and shared our adventures. We have enjoyed fabulous far-away locations, and we have appreciated the Island in Canada where we live and consider ourselves blessed.

We seven have also all experienced family tragedies and many health challenges through the years. Divorce, death of partners, cancer diagnoses, and the tragic death of grandchildren. Not to mention the story of a loving adoption and the birth of a grandchild with Down syndrome whose story has inspired us all. How could anyone get through these traumas without the support of loving friends who understand and care?  But all of this is simply life. The ups and downs of being members of the wonderful human race. No one gets through life without problems to overcome and we seven are no exception.

Now we are all in our seventies and eighties and we are left with two things. Gratitude and pride. After all, we have survived so much and we’re still going strong despite some loss of hearing, eyesight, a pacemaker, new knees and new hips.

Only one or two of us still write. I’m one of them and for me it has become my therapy in times of stress, and I will keep doing it for as long as I am able – and still have my marbles! Others in the group have different talents now which they enjoy such as jewellery making, music, baking, gardening, painting, and puppetry.

We once met every month in one another’s homes or at a restaurant of our choice. Now it is harder to herd us all together on a mutual date, so we meet less often but whenever we do, we discover we are still able to enjoy one another’s company and laugh together. And that surely is what growing old together in true friendship looks like. Friends who offer support and love.

How blessed we are to enjoy this long friendship and a good way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year.