Gutsy Girl Power
“My Gutsy Story®” by Mariana Williams
I’m getting off the plane feeling nervous. Having sat in the last row, it took a while getting out. The pilot was walking way ahead of me when I noticed a text came in on my phone. “Where are you?”
I sighed and slowed down. Maybe contacting someone through a private detective after a forty-year gap wasn’t such a good idea. Was Danelle impatiently tapping her foot at baggage claim? Was she eager to return to her life—after meeting me? And, what is that life? Aghhh, maybe the text simply indicated she might not have recognized me walk past.
I’d been a writer for ten years now, and after penning three novels, my colorful life of peaks and valleys became the focus of my memoirs. The boldest early memories took place with the girl I met at summer camp. We were fifth graders and rode horses, swam, sang, and built a language of laughter that I was betting would be worth the 2,627miles sojourn across the Pacific Ocean.
Danelle was the friend that always pushed the limits of what was allowed. Now, decades later I suspected my gutsy friend would either be serving a prison sentence or the head of Wall Street. She hadn’t shown up for any reunions and no one had heard a word after high school. My mild obsession about the outcome of her life had me searching the Internet and even looking for her in a crowd. Danelle was my daring alter ego.
Ages twelve through seventeen it wasn’t sex, drugs and alcohol for us—we were just merry pranksters exploring the limits of travel without a car. Armed with imagination and a thumb we escaped the hot San Fernando Valley, often hopping off a bus in a random city. Danger was always around the corner and we saw its shadow, but I trusted my street-smart friend and aside from getting picked up by the police as runaways—all was bitchen’.
After a few capers we were restricted from hanging out. Oh, sure. That always works. Ask Romeo and Juliette. The last warning to stay away from Danelle was delivered in my mother’s low guttural growl—at three a.m., walking me out of a police station, picked up as runaways. Danelle and I feebly explained that we were vacationing at the Beverly Hilton Hotel that weekend. “What’s your room number?” barked the policewoman.
“Well, we don’t have a room exactly,” I stammered. “Our stuff is behind a big ol stack of chairs in the banquet room. We hang out at the pool in the daytime and crash behind the chairs at night. Really, nobody even cares.”
***
My husband’s golf buddy was a private eye. It was a gutsy move but I hired him. It took him about ten days—longer than he predicted. After a few phone conversations, I made plans to fly to Kauai—before one of us died or my fascination lost momentum. Curiosity led to sentimentality and now just the sweaty-palm of embarrassment as the twelve-year-old in me looks for my friend’s brown curly mop-head, somewhere by the baggage carrousel.
I catch the familiar eyes and serene smile immediately as I come through the door. She’s dressed in a feminine, white hippy blouse, jeans and a sporty hat; something straight out of my closet. My first thought was, I wish I had coincidentally worn that same outfit—it would have been a funnier moment. But it wasn’t about being funny. We hugged and surprised ourselves, I think, by holding the wordless embrace for a long while. A few tears flowed and I can’t say why. We had not gone through a war together, or donated a kidney to keep the other alive. However, Danelle and Mariana were, pound for pound, the best combination of laugh and adventure I’d known. Was there still room for more adolescent merriment?
***
A few years after leaving high school she dropped out of the mainland’s fast lane and opted for the gentle lifestyle of the tropics. She found her niche in the Garden Island of Kauai, and stayed after a brief stint at the hippy colony, “Taylor Ranch.” She married a local surfer and has two beautiful daughters and three grand girls. With animals in the yard and shells on the windowsill, their life is an endless summer and their home as comfy as a hammock swinging between two palms.
Once inside her house she tossed me a few floral sundresses from her closet to replace my “haole” wardrobe of black and white. Then we did what we do best, hit the road. As we tore around the island in her car, she seemed like a Guidess, half guide-half goddess—leading us into new adventures. We caught up on decades while we bobbed in the surf of hidden beaches and picnicked on cliffs.
We discovered we are both happily married; each had two children about the same age, one easier than the other. We cracked up knowing the more difficult child was the most like ourselves. Another coincidence—world travelers, we each had collections of rocks and crystals from foreign lands.
The week passed quickly nibbling shaved ice by day and nights under the Hawaiian moon whispering personal stories of unexplainable mysteries, coincidences, and magic moments. Instead of the Beatles, we tuned into the island music. It wasn’t Don Ho. It was the beat of waves crashing, the harmony of porch-chimes tinkling and always—girls laughing.
It was a gutsy move to put my ego in my back pocket and bet on girl power, and a friendship that could span years and miles.
MARIANA WILLIAMS is the author of the Veronica Bennett Series of romance, comedy, and accidental crime. Happy New Year, Darling, The Valentine State and Stars or Stripes 4th of July, which won a 2011 Indie Excellence Book Award. Her book of memoirs will be out in 2014. Mariana was a Moth Grand Slam finalist in the acclaimed story-telling competition held in Los Angeles. She is the Producer of Long Beach Searches for the Greatest Storyteller, an event in Long Beach, California, in its fourth season. She lives in So. California with her husband, Oscar-winning songwriter, Paul Williams. Website: www.Marianawilliams.net.
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SONIA MARSH SAYS: What a beautiful story of love and friendship that grew and remained etched in your heart from fifth grade. I love the way you hired a private detective to find your long-lost friend. I hope you make a point of seeing one another at least once a year, from now on.
***
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Mariana,
Your story reminded me of my best friend in Denmark, Lilian, whom I’ve known since I was 3-years-old. We are seeing one another in Paris this May. She is like a sister to me, and she even flew to visit me From Copenhagen to Belize, when I lived there. Keep seeing Danelle.
Sonia Marsh recently posted..“Gutsy Girl Power” by Mariana Williams
The advantage to having a friend in Denmark–is the cool cultural exchange too. That’s another thing that made my reunion so exotic. I’d never been to Kauai before and Danelle is so emersed in the island culture, it was a window into another world.
Hi Sonia and Mariana,
That is such a beautiful story. Those childhood friendships are amazing and I love how Marianna followed her instinct and got back in touch.
Annabel Candy, Get In the Hot Spot recently posted..Nature, Wellbeing and Happiness in Salento, Italy
Thanks Annabel. I agree, as I said, I don’t have siblings and Lilian is my best friend from childhood. Unfortunately we only see each other once a year or every 2 years, but we always make an effort to Skype.
Sonia Marsh recently posted..“Gutsy Girl Power” by Mariana Williams
Thanks, Anabelle–I love your name!
Oh, what a lovely story. Our childhood friends are the ones we often have such close bonds to.
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Hi Lady Fi,
We can make/choose our own family of friends–Sonia doesn’t have siblings–so she adopted a sister for life. That’s available to all of us. When it happens when we are young it’s cool because we have silly memories. As adults we can still bond while taking about youth and stupid stuff we did–over coffee.
Fun bobbing in the waves at Waiohai Beach with you and Danelle. From the moment you found Danelle–you and your visit was all Danelle talked about at our Wednesday beach outings and Kukui’ula farmers market Wednesdays. Glad you two connected and that you came to visit Kauai. Fly over the pacific to visit us again.
Suzanne, it was great meeting you–Danelle’s good friend. Especially when I found the video “What Does the Fox Say?” and we had to do the dance. I mean we HAD to do the dance!
Fun time!
Love this story as I am the girl Marianna came to visit. It was such a gift that she gave me. First to find me then coming across the Pacific to reconnect. It was like we had never let time come between us, it was the best summer seeing my best friend and laughing and being 17 again
Danelle,
So glad you commented. I feel like I know you now through Mariana. Please tell her to come over and leave some comments. Thanks.
Sonia Marsh recently posted..Vote For Your Favorite February 2014 “My Gutsy Story®”
Hi Danelle! See our tale is out in the world…out on this beautiful beach…look behind the message! Sonia’s adventure was taking her family to Beliz…so she has the island moftiff.
Thank you so much for all the hopitality you showed me in Kauai. (I will never look at chicken the same way.) I loved how the time slipped away while we bobbed in warm water and that giant turtle swished by our legs. I am smiling at my computer screen. HA! Maybe our story will inspire other girls to look up their childhood friends. It’s not as risky as digging up an old boyfriend…it can at least be a fun memory lane conversation. Aloha!
Hi Matianna I would love it if other friends who drifted apart could find there way back to each other It is more than remains sing and catching up It is a bond that you don’t even realize exist and a Comfort that brings you back to your past and still alows you to be who you were, and who you have become at the same time. It’s the you that only a few will ever know
I’m so glad you took your gutsy-ness to the next level and found your long-lost friend (and what better place to find her then in Hawaii). I have a friend in California–we’ve been friends for over 50 years–that I still keep in touch with, either by social networking or I hop on a plane from South Carolina to visit her. I wish you oceans of blessings for your long time friendship.
It was risky, because it occured to me that we might burn through everything we had to say in ten minutes and it would leave a wole week of nothing to say to each other! You know, you consider everything!
Hi Mariana,
I remember when you were heading over to Kauai and your text when you returned. I told you when I read it that you painted such a powerful visual image with your writing that I could see it all.
Now reading the complete “Gutsy Girl Power”,I found myself watching you getting off the plane and the two of you off on your latest and first adult adventure! The Mariana I know and love: her warmth, her inate sense of humor, her brilliant turn of phrase comes through berautifully. Looking forward to more. Hugs…
Awwww… Peggy, we sound like friends! You take trips with your sisters and go to far-away lands. We are lucky to have sisters, but those who don’t can always “adopt.” I really like the picture we have of us as Charley’s Angels–speaking of girl adventures! See you next week, my friend and thanks for checking out Sonia’s cool site.
What a wonderful story of friendship through the miles and years. It is particularly poignant as so many of us never take that bold step to reach out and risk that someone out there might feel the same intense emotions as we do…or not! Your story reminds us that our years are numbered and life too short to procrastinate.
Your friend was a risk-taker. You too! You both model the way for us all!
I too have friends in Denmark…and a past love! One Danish friend from high school I found out owns a B&B in Croatia. Those Vikings get around! I am dying to check it out and give her a huge hug and tell her how much her friendship meant to me when I was standing alone in this Danish school surrounded by fellow teens speaking in foreign gutteral tongues…”Are you the AFS student from Ohio?” I turned, and Ruth Damgaard was my savior, that day, and so many other days. Ruth, I’m coming to Denmark to visit you!!!
Thanks Mariana!
Thanks Anne from San Miguel de Allende! We met a year ago and really bonded–so I know you know the Girl Power of friendship. Wouldn’t it be interesting if Sonia’s friend in Denmark knows your friend in Denmark. Oh, I so hope they are both reading this and they find each other and meet for hot chocolate in a warm cafe.
I look forward to my next trip to Mexico. Anne, I’m releasing my memoirs, like ths stories you heard at my show on Feb. 3rd. “Love, Regret and Accidental Nudity” with the same art work that was on the poster–will be on the cover. It will be out soon.
Abrazos grande, chica! Y gracias,
Mariana
What a great story. I think that this beautifully written tale of a unique friendship, becomes universal in the sharing.
We have all had a friend (or friends) who challenged us to be more!
Mariana is clearly such a friend. I hope she keeps reaching out with her waves of writing, making us laugh and cry, submerging un in the salty spray of her stories .
Yes, I will keep submerging you in the salty spray of my stories, which may lead to salty spray of tears of laughter! We’ve had a few of those!
I just loved this story! I feel inspired to find my dear friend and remember all those wild and crazy times of feeling free! Thank you Mariana, I truly enjoyed reading your gutsy story!
Thanks, Linda…I’m glad I inspired a reunion…meet at the beach if at all possible, I say! Give Mary Ellen a hug for me!
This story gives you chicken skin as they say in Hawaii – so inspirational – I know Danielle, I just didn’t realize that she was so…kolohe (rascal) early on – this story wants you to go back and relive your childhood – no fears or tears and relish in the innocent days of yesteryear ! Here’s to new memories for the future …
Hi Molly, you can enter a story here too…relive your childhood, with one incident, 1,000 words or less…sometimes the “gutsy stuff” is beter told in smaller circles, however, right??! I hope to meet you on my next visit to your lovely island. We can toast to “Girl Power!” Thanks for your comments across the miles and ocean. ( I think the internet is here to stay. HA!)
Aloha,
Hi Molly , thank you for your comments. You are right Mariana has a way of writing that’ makes you want to experience her experiences I like the idea of making new memories. But I gotta say its gonna be hard for me to top this one
Ah Hui Ho….
xoxox
This story made me cry and laugh!! It reminds me of my adventures with my best friend. Omg, the things we did…! I know Danelle and she is wonderful! I am blessed to know her.
Hi Jen,
Yes–now that I am miles away in California you have to have adventures large and small with Danelle. Sometimes the adventures are–people watching and saying what those strangers are doing and their ficticious backgrounds. Laughter may occur.
Enjoy friendships old and new is the message, right? Right!
Thanks for writing in and voiting.
TIll next time…aloha!
Thanks Jen. Having old friends that you stay connected to is a blessing. New friends that come into your life can bring you joy, laughter, and new memories to Cherri’s You are my new and cherrised friend.
Marianna
Great story of friendship so deep it goes beyond the norm. And the reward was more than finding her, it was restoration of friendship! It also reminds me of when I went to France a friend to take her daughter back from a very abusive husband. She pretended reunion and we waited until she got him drunk and a PI had a car and drove us to Belgium where we got a plane back to US.
That is a WAY gutsy story!! From infatuation to kidnapping escape! You need to write that story Larry. Thanks for the kind words…big aloha hugs!
Interesting story! I enjoy every post of yours. Keep sharing with us.