Cindy W. Morrison

Last night before I went to bed, I was beating myself up. Why was I stressing myself to the max just so I could get away for few days? The last 48 hours had been a nightmare. I squeezed 6 work days into 2– frantically returning emails, recording a new Girlfriends 2.0 show and dealing with website and book details. It also took a crazy amount of time to prepare my husband and kids for my 4-day absence. I put reminder notes everywhere (“don’t forget to feed the cat!”), bartered with other mothers about the carpool and made sure every family member knew about his or her activities each and every day. (Come to think of it, did I remember to mention talent show rehearsals?! Hmmm.. must call on that, but I digress…) Last but not least, while I’m not sure I can afford the time it takes to get ready for vacation, I’m not sure I can literally afford it either. We’re on a tight budget until my book comes out. The bottom line: I was running myself ragged and guilting myself all for what? Just a few days in Vegas?! I flopped into bed about 2am… exhausted, grumpy and overwhelmed.

This morning, however, I woke up a new person. I knew EXACTLY why I had
been stressing myself to make this trip happen: THIS is my annual Girlfriends Vacay! Each year I meet up with two of my oldest and dearest Girlfriends in Vegas. In fact, since starting this on a lark years ago, it has become a tradition. Now that we all live in different cities and are busier than ever with families and careers, this is the one time we can count on getting together and giggling like little school girls. And it’s amazing because from the moment we see each other, it’s like no time has passed.

But this year, meeting up with Janna and Mignon isn’t simply something fun, it’s something I need. You see, it was during this trip last year I learned about yet anther layoff at the TV station where I’d worked for 12 years. (GULP!) Over the next 12 months, I was laid off, diagnosed with a grapefruit size tumor and started a business from scratch. With so much upheaval, the idea of sticking with a tradition I love gives me comfort. But it’s more than that. Getting away with my Girlfriends helps me get in touch with the Cindy from years ago who is fun loving, virtually trouble free and isn’t jaded or constantly working.

Funny thing is our vacay in Sin City isn’t what you night think. Our idea of fun is spending the day in Sephora and sharing trade makeup secrets. We also shop until our hearts content; not necessarily buying anything but mainly seeing which styles work and which don’t. (Mark my words: no one is more honest about what looks bad on you than a true Girlfriend! They have saved me from many a fashion nightmare!) But the best part of the trip is that we talk — A LOT! We spend HOURS pouring out our hearts, dishing out advice like Pez dispensers and supporting one another’s hopes and dreams. By the end of each trip, I think we all feel empowered and (dare I say) better about ourselves than when we arrived in Vegas days earlier.

So, as I sit here on the plane writing this, I know exactly why I’m going to Vegas. It’s more than an escape. This is my chance to reboot and upgrade ME. By surrounding myself with my Girlfriends for several days, I have a chance to remember things I’ve forgotten, gain things I need and value the things I have. While I won’t spend as much money as I have in the past, this trip is an investment in me and THAT’s why Girlfriend vacays are worth every penny. Viva Las Vegas!

***Girlfriends Notes: Mignon and Janna read this as soon as I touched down in Vegas (as any good Girlfriend would do!) and they have two changes. They want you to strike the world “oldest” because we are not OLD! Secondly, they say the names have not been changed to protect the innocent — because they are not. LOL!!