Girlfriend’s Getaway to Branson

This past weekend was the weekend for our now annual slumber party with Lora and Shelly, two friends I went so school with.

Last year, I wrote about the Slumber Party at Campbell Town, which we held here overnight. I hadn’t seen either of my friends since graduation 27 years before.

Last year was all about getting to know one another again and getting caught up on a lifetime of living since graduation night in 1982. I’m sure all of us were a little apprehensive about what to expect after so many years. When we settled into our friendships as if we had never been apart, we realized how much we still enjoyed each other and decided to expand it to two nights and make our reunion an annual event.

This year, it was less about catching up on old times and more about making new memories. But it was also about getting away from the stresses of adult life and there’s no better way to do it than with friends I knew before responsibility and stress.

We decided to take our slumber party to Branson, Mo., where we could enjoy the holiday lights and festivities. The city is a great one for a girl friend’s getaway anytime of the year, but the holidays just makes it quite magical.

We checked into our hotel room on Friday night at the Hilton Convention Center, just off of The Branson Landing, an outdoor shopping mall. I always love staying at the Hilton, as the upper floor rooms provide a beautiful view of Lake Taneycomo and the Landing.   This stay was extra special, as I was with two good friends. And really, it was a little like being kids again. We didn’t have to worry about cooking or cleaning up – someone did it for us!

We visited the Titanic Museum and then stayed up in our hotel room until the wee hours having a few drinks and laughing. This time, I not only  almost peed my pants, I had sore sides from laughing so hard!

On Saturday, we did a little Christmas shopping (what’s a girls weekend getaway without some shopping!?) It also took me back to those Saturdays spent at the mall as a teen looking for that perfect outfit for whatever date or party we were going to the next weekend.

Later, we went way back in time by visiting Silver Dollar City. This is the first theme park I attended with my parents as a child, so it was fitting I was there with two good friends I made from that era. The indoor rollercoaster, Fire in the Hole! is still there and can still make me scream!

The day was warm and beautiful and though it was quite crowded, we still had a great time, especially when they turned on the millions of lights that decorate this 1880s themed “town.” The giant tree in the middle of the park mesmerized us all.

We had an old time photo taken as saloon girls to remember the 2010 slumber party, but I was sworn not to post them on the Internet.

I haven’t been to a variety show in Branson since I was a kid, but the Baldknobbers show on Saturday night was fun and entertaining. The second half of the show was dedicated to Christmas themed music, which could put even the biggest Scrooge in the mood.

The show is celebrating its 51^st season this year and their experience was evident in the well-choreographed show and beautiful costumes. It was fun watching the children ask for autographs from the performers during the intermission, it took me back to my own childhood and posters from those shows pinned up on my cork board above my desk in my room. The humor sprinkled throughout also had us laughing pretty hard. Our laughter once again continued into the wee hours of the morning once we got back to the hotel.

Shelly wrote us an email on Sunday night saying she needed to laugh like that more often. I know I do, too. Maybe we should get together more than once a year!

I know several women who reconnect with friends from high school or college at least once a year. Have you done this and what makes it so special for you?