Growing up, when you played ninjas, you might have dressed all in black. For us, we would sneak round the farm, saving the world of course, but always making sure we weren’t seen by my dad of grandpa on the farm, because we all know ninjas aren’t supposed to be seen.
On Saturday, I had my own set of ninjas.
We celebrated Ben’s graduation Saturday on a warm, but beautiful day. The yard was full from before the start time until well into the evening.
With the party starting at 4 p.m., I had my three ninjas there at 3 p.m. Three of my close friends were there to find out where the food was, what needed to be filled and where the extra everything was. By 3:30 p.m., I was outside and only went back into the house one time, to see an amazing graduation “pizza” my neighbor had made.
I know that another one of my ninjas came a little after start time because she had another event. Did I see them throughout the night — yep. Not because they were sneaking around me and I caught them. Instead, it was because they were checking in on me to see if I needed anything, asking simple questions and enjoying themselves some too.
When I headed into the house after 11 p.m. that night, the true work of my ninjas was very obvious. Everything they could put away was put away. All the serving dishes were washed, dried and stacked for me to store. The kitchen didn’t look like the tornado-like mess I would have expected.
In addition, the entire night the food was restocked, drinks were kept cold, dessert trays were replenished and we never ran out of mints.
I had set my phone down randomly throughout the party. I found plenty of great photos they had added to my camera roll and even better, some fantastic selfies of my squad just to let me know they were there.
Life gets busy. We used to go to dinner once a month. We haven’t done that all four of us since January 2024. We joke that we can probably plan something in 2032 if we put it on our calendars now.
Instead of girls’ weekends and monthly get-togethers, it’s group messages and funny reels sent back and forth. Do I miss those dinners, absolutely.
But this group of friends is deep. I didn’t ask them to come help. Instead, two weeks before graduation, the group chat message was, “what time should the calvary arrive on June 6.” There was never a question of if they would help.
This year was unique because three of us had graduations. That meant our ninja squad has celebrated and helped at a graduation for the last three weeks. It was chaotic and stressful and absolutely wonderful because it was the most we’d seen each other in a year.
Our kids are going different directions, but if they are anything like their moms, their friendships will continue, too. As I jumped in the van bright and early Sunday morning to get to Watertown, SD, for Natalie to play soccer, I reflected on our day Saturday. I was blessed to think of all the people who came to celebrate Ben and wish him well on his next journey.
I was also extremely blessed to know my tribe was there again and will continue to be anytime I need them. That is something you only dream of when you play ninjas as a kid.
