Five women are out to breakfast on this rainy Tuesday.

I swear I see them in here weekly. Maybe it's not quite that often, but it seems like we run into each other pretty frequently.

It's pouring rain on the other side of the floor-to-ceiling glass window. I'm sitting at a two-top in the corner. This group of women are gathered around the table next to mine. Gray hair's sticking out from under beanies, and purples, yellows, blues, and greens are popping among them all in the form of sweaters, shawls, and scarves. They're lounging with coffee in hand and each is cycling through life updates. I can't help but notice that most are about the people in their lives rather than about themselves. There's not a phone in sight and I'm pretty sure there's a correlation there, but I can't prove it.

I slurp my coffee, pretending to be deeply enamored with the lines of code I'm sifting through on my laptop in front of me. I have no idea how long this group's been gathering, but it sounds like they've known each other for years. Someone brought up an adult child who was struggling. Maybe it was a niece or nephew... I'm only catching bits and pieces of conversation and, despite my interest, I'm trying not to eavesdrop (you know, more than I already am). But I can't help it. It's like when you're at the dentist and thinking about keeping your tongue out of the way inevitably ends with sticking your tongue exactly where it's not supposed to be.

Anyway.

The rest of the circle seems to be offering support. And they do it again when talking about how one of them's navigating a cancer diagnosis, followed by genuine "awwws" when a new multi-colored wool hat comes out—a gift from their wife.

I catch myself smiling and hope they don't notice.

Good for them.

Should I be so lucky to reach their age someday, I want this—a group of friends to get breakfast with on a rainy Tuesday. Because somehow, despite the heavier topics it seems they've popcorned their way through, there's a whole lot of laughter bouncing around that table.

What a beautiful thing to be part of.

* * *

On a day where Shane Gillis is going viral for overtly disparaging women and queer people like me on live TV, I'm really glad I stumbled across this breakfast club. I'm not linking it but, if you're curious, this is in reference to the dumpster-fire of a monologue Shane gave on SNL over the weekend.

Seriously, fuck that guy.

onward.

For more on this daily column, read the backstory here. And if you know someone who'd appreciate this, pass it along.