Circle of friends

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This article was published 28/10/2010 (5672 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Born in 1955, a group of eight Brandon-born women marked that milestone and their friendship by celebrating their 55th birthday together.

Most of this group of friends still live here, but a few flew in from Edmonton, Calgary and Kelowna last month for the occasion.

Wendy Labossière (née Wood), Debbie LeBlanc (née Fordyce), Sharon Figol (née Kulman), Joan Foster (née Solomon), Janice Monin (née Basaraba), Roxie Stevens (née Smith), Charlene Manning (née Salyn) and Janice Martens (née Jones) gathered at Monin’s brother’s cottage at Clear Lake for a weekend of reminiscing.

"For a large part of the population, money, big houses, trendy vehicles and other materialistic things (are) a big priority. But for me, family, friends, and getting together with the girls that I grew up with are probably the most important things in my life," said Monin.

"This valuable asset cannot be bought or collected. It is a blessing and as irreplaceable as a rare gem."

Some of the women met when they were only four years old, while others entered their circle in school.

After high school, some remained here, others went away to study or work.

Some got married — a few more than once — and had children, others opted not to follow this traditional path.

Monin, for example, met her husband and lived in Germany for a decade before returning to her hometown.

Whenever these friends are together, they laugh, cry, sing together, tell stories of their lives, and show each other steadfast support, empathy and friendship.

"For the most part, we’ve been there for each other during the good and bad times," Monin said. "We’ve had more than one shoulder to lean on and so far, life has been good to us, being blessed with our health, terrific families and each other. It started so long ago, this friendship, (and it) has emerged into something pretty rare nowadays. We like to think of it as our ‘Circle of Friends,’ now and then, and forever more."

Though most of the friends did get together to underline their 40th, then their 50th birthdays, all eight were present for their 55th — the first time that the whole gang was in one spot since high school.

"We gave ourselves a year to find that time to do this," said Monin.

Since her departure 30 years ago, Manning continued to visit her parents and friends in Brandon twice a year.

She was pleased to take part in these festivities.

"It was wonderful. We all want to see each other and when we get together, it’s as if we’ve never been apart. It’s incredible how you can stay friends with people you’ve known since kindergarten," Manning said.

"When I tell people here (in Edmonton) what we do, they just go: ‘You’ve got to be kidding. You’ve stayed friends with them all this time?’ It’s pretty special."