Aunt Ann is bursting with pride. Her beloved Hannah, goddaughter extra­or­dinare, is grad­u­ating next Tuesday. But before the grad­u­a­tion was the prom.

Hannah has been lucky enough to spend the 7 years at a girls’ school in Manhattan, Mary­mount. It’s been an wonderful expe­ri­ence. It’s also been a godsend. When her mom was dying of cancer, the people at this tiny little school showed up. When she was having a tough year after that unpleasant summer, her friends hung tough. They’ve become the village that helped her dad raise this fabu­lous young woman.

When I got the prom pictures, I was struck not by the girls’ mooning over their dates but rather by their mooning over one another. They’re such good friends. They’re already plan­ning how they’ll stay connected as they dash off to different parts of the world to college. I looked at their beau­tiful faces (and did they plan their increasing shades of pink dresses — oh dear, pretty much!), and thought wow, I want them to be friends forever. I don’t want them to lose touch with what they’ve got. When I do Hannah’s wedding (years from now, I might add!) I want to see this same puppy pile of friend­ship. And I want it tumbling into my arms!

Friends, in this case girl­friends, are the crucible in which we learn to be part­ners.  We also learn how to be better people because they’re encour­aging and chal­lenging us. So, Hannah, Anya and Amelia, Go for it. I’m proud. I’m happy. and I’m elated that you’ve got the girls.