Having Christmas at Carmen’s house (Credit: Supplied.)
A year after I joined, our group expanded with the addition of Carmen.
‘Wouldn’t it be great if we could all go away together,’ Vesna suggested one day in 2011.
Appointing Vinka as our treasurer, we began pitching in whatever money we had left over each month to go towards our holidays.
About a year later, we had enough in the kitty.
‘Where should we go?’ Vinka asked.
We decided to go on a cruise through the Pacific Islands.
White night on a cruise (Credit: Supplied.)
We continued putting in money every month and, over the years, our savings have seen us travel to Nelson Bay, Kangaroo Valley, and Moreton Bay.
‘Nothing will stop us!‘
In 2016, we’d even saved enough to go to Europe, where we spent a month eating and drinking our way around Barcelona, Italy and Greece. Our lovely unofficial member Sonia, 72, joined us too!
I was grateful to make such special memories with the women who’d become like my family.
Personalised bank books I made (Credit: Supplied.)
When the pandemic hit, it was a stressful time for everyone, and we struggled to be away from each other.
Instead of moping, we held our catch-ups online where we spent hours on Zoom, roaring with laughter, wearing fancy dress or crazy hats.
Nothing will stop us! I beamed.
Our friendship has also seen us through some of the toughest periods, such as when our lovely Monica endured breast cancer in 2023, and our gorgeous Teresa had stomach cancer many years ago. During their treatment, we’d take our friends on long walks, give each of them cuddles and shower them in presents.
Thankfully, Teresa is now cancer free and Monica is in remission.
‘Our Sejuela sisterhood is unbreakable.’
When I lost my dad, then 97, seven years ago, and my mum, 95, a few years after, the girls were super supportive and gave me beautiful flowers.
Being safe during Covid (Credit: Supplied.)
We’ve also been blessed with new life in our group, with Carmen becoming a first-time grandmother this March.
‘I’m smiling even when I’m sleeping,’ she said after her grandson Henry was born.
All of our kids adore our group.
‘I love the girls!’ Stephy chuckles.
Our Sejuela sisterhood is unbreakable, and this May will mark 17 years since it all began.
To celebrate, our group, now aged between 84 and 61, will be going to Bali for one week where we plan to go road tripping.
Although we laugh that our ‘youth is gone’, I’ve never felt so alive with my sisters by my side.
Source link : https://www.thatslife.com.au/real-life/story-behind-our-special-sisterhood-sejuela-friendship-group/
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Publish date : 2024-06-30 05:06:50
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