Whats So Special About "The Syracuse Girls?"

What is so special about “The Syracuse Girls?”  



I moved to Syracuse for a couple of short years for business.  This was the first time in my life that I had lived outside the Western New York area.  Used to a strong social network of friends and family, I was very much “out there on my own” in a way that I had never experienced.  In the first couple of months, it really didn’t matter all that
much. There was a lot of work to be done.  I needed to focus all of my time and attention there. 

Once I had business things somewhat under control, I joined a nice local gym and started doing the normal business networking type activities.  I was sort of biding my time until I could move back to the Buffalo area. I went on a few dates here and there.  I was unhappy in my apartment and mentioned this to a very nice man, Tom, who I was dating
casually at the time.  “You have to meet my cousin, Bonnie. She is looking for a tenant at her townhouse. She will
also live at the townhouse on weekends too.“  I was completely against any type of roommate situation.  Thank goodness Tom was persistent.  He kept bringing it up, “Just meet her.  You will like each other.  Living situation aside, I absolutely insist that you meet her.”  "OK, Tom, FORTHELOVEOFGOD, I will meet her.'  I wasn’t expecting much.  I even brought my father with me the day that I arranged to meet Bonnie.  

Bonnies on the left, Im in the middle, and Debs on the right.

Five minutes in to our meeting, Bonnie and I left my father behind and took a tour, blabbing away. We were instant friends. I moved in to the townhouse shortly thereafter.  Debbie and Sandy were already close friends of Bonnie, and we formed a pretty formidable gang of four almost immediately.  We were all single, successful if new in our careers, fun-loving adventurous musketeers.  We went to concerts, art shows, went dancing, and went for cocktails.  We had crazy fun adventures and in some cases were lucky to live to tell the stories.

At some point, our business brought me back to Western New York.  I sure missed my friends and family back here, but really hated to leave our very special and unique group of friends in Syracuse behind. But something really amazing happened.  We never lost our friendship.  We never stopped making time for each other.  We never stopped arranging trips or meeting places.  We attended each other’s weddings, special birthdays, and got together just because we missed each other. Over time, Sandy moved a couple of times, eventually settling in Washington DC.  Bonnie moved a few times, eventually settling in Ft Lauderdale Florida. Debbie made a beautiful home in a suburb of Syracuse with her amazing family.   It is pretty easy to lose touch with each other through weddings, moves, and just some pretty big careers. It takes four people to make sure that never happens. 

What is so special about Bonnie?  Bonnie has certainly climbed to the top of her career in the financial industry. 
She has carved out a pretty great life with her husband Bob in Fort Lauderdale.  She sees a way to take her life to the next level and boldly does it. No second guessing, no hesitation. She also never stopped wanting to plan time to laugh, have fun, and just sit around and talk with us.  Bonnie is beautiful, smart and inspiring in the way that she lives her life.  She is also the kind of friend you want on your side when you are feeling less than 100% about yourself
or need help or advice of any kind.  She will look you right in the face and tell you exactly what you need to
hear.

What is so special about Debbie?  Debbie is one of the best mothers I have ever seen.  She adores her
kids and makes sure that they have the best of everything but are kind, down to earth, polite and solid.  They are
lucky to have her as a mom.  She adores her husband too.  Debbie a very talented interior designer and helps businesses plan their furniture and other aspects of design.  With all of this going on, you would wonder whether she would find the time or even have interest in us friends from long ago.  She not only embraces our trips and reunions, she has hosted several of them at her beautiful home.  Not only has she never forgotten how to have fun, she absolutely insists that you do the same.  Debbie is a responsible loving member of society who will never get old and never forget how to have a blast. She also has a pretty great habit of seeing the best in people. 

What is so special about Sandy?  Sandy is a very smart, serious and career minded woman.  Sandy has been very successful in the accounting world. Sandy is also one of the kindest humans that walk the planet.  She is funny,mischievous and smart. You can trust Sandy with your deepest secret and you can trust her to be right there with you when you come with a ridiculous plan to stop at a biker bar or old school lounge.  

You can trust all of these beautiful and smart women to:
1)Pick you up when you are down
2)Make you laugh
3)Laugh at your jokes
4)Make you see the best in yourself
5)Have fun doing anything; or nothing
6)Never impose their agenda on the life that you should have.  They celebrate you
and your life.
7)Answer the phone and bring bail money if you called them at 4AM

In summary, you can take them anywhere.  These women are at home at a symphony board dinner or private club, meeting captains of industry and going to the grungiest of concerts, a diner, a bowling alley or a dive bar.  They are some of the best people this planet has to offer.  They are my honorary sisters and lifelong friends.  I am honored to be among them. Thank you, Tom Greenwood.  You gave me the gift of the friendships of a lifetime in them. 

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