The RaffMoore Drama Club Invades Northampton

I had the pleasure of spending this past weekend with three people who I've known my entire life.  On Saturday morning I met my cousin Laura at our cousin Bridget's house, and from there we drove out to Northampton to spend the weekend with our other cousin (and Bridget's sister), Jen.  When we were kids we made up a drama club for ourselves called "The RaffMoore Drama Club" (combining our lasts names - what a creatively clever crew of cousins we were!).  Over the course of our childhood we created and then starred in many plays that were usually performed at the tail end of a holiday gathering.  Our plays were welcomed with open arms by our adoring fans - parents, aunts, uncles, siblings and grandparents.  At this point you should know that the sentence prior to this one was hard core sarcasm.  What we usually heard at the beginning of a holiday party was, "No plays today!!",  and then when we announced that everyone had to stop their conversations to come watch our Broadway production, there was a lot of grumbling and resistance.   Obviously they didn't know talent when they saw it!   Anyway, back to the weekend...


It was a weekend full of food, drinks, laughter, down time, music, shopping, eating dinner in jammies, walking, singing, sillies, and catching up.  We all agreed that we feel so blessed to have not only grown up together, but to also be such great friends.  I don't know many people who are as close to their extended families as we are, and it's something I am grateful for and that I cherish deeply.  I know that I speak for all of us when I say that this weekend was truly a treat and that leaving to go back home was tough (I was actually going to handcuff myself to a pipe in Jen's apartment and then swallow the key so I could stay longer, but then I realized that would be bordering on "psycho", and so I stomped my feet, threw just a little tantrum and then finally went out to the car - boo!).  I am, however, hoping we can make this an annual event!!   Love you ladies! 


PS, There were no performances this weekend, but there is always next year.  :-)

A reflection of us on the window of a building on the Smith College campus.

The RaffMoore Drama Club.  From left to right:  Laura, Jen, yours truly and Bridget.