The difference a year makes Part 1

On Friday night I went to my second annual Purse Party.  It's a party that is now in it's fourth year and began with a circle of girls who wanted to buy Christmas presents for each other without breaking the bank buying a gift for each girl.  Instead everyone brings a purse - limit $30 - and the purses are exchanged via Chinese gift exchange.   Both years I've attended I've been amazed at the purses everyone has found for $30.

Last year was my first year and I was feeling very anxious while I was getting ready for the party.  I was only on a surface acquaintanceship with most of the girls in the room and I just felt like I didn't belong, that I didn't fit.  At the party I chatted and laughed along with the others but I wasn't quite able to shake that lonely feeling of being separate from the crowd.  I did however go home with a fantastic purse!  It was this one, which just so happened to be the one I brought:

The beginning of 2010 was a bit of a starting over for me as two of my go-to girlfriends with kids moved away.  I have always thought the hardest part of starting over is the amount of time it takes to build relationships.  Strong friendships are built over time and shared experiences, neither of which can be shortcut.   This year, after a year of coffees, girls nights out and dinners at my house, as I sat in the circle of girls waiting for the game to begin, I felt like I was home.  Over the last year these girls have become my people, my family since I have none here, and I felt exactly as if I belonged.  The other difference this year is I didn't take home the purse I brought.  I took home this one:

Isn't she purty?