After years apart, Cindy and Denice found each other again at the Gordon Family YMCA. Their friendship began in the late 1980's, when their children were small. A move overseas and the demands of raising families had interrupted their time together, but when Cindy walked into the Y and spotted Denice, their connection still felt familiar.
Today, they attend Muscle Up group exercise classes together three days a week, giving a friendship that stretches back nearly four decades a regular place in their lives.
A Friendship Built on Support
Cindy and Denice met through church in Bonney Lake. Both had grown up in California, and their shared experiences helped them connect. Denice, a hairdresser, began doing Cindy's hair and conversations became a space to talk openly about raising children and keeping up with everyday responsibilities. Together with a small circle of friends, they built the kind of trust that made it easier to ask for help.
That support often meant stepping into each other's daily lives. When Denice was exhausted from working and caring for young children, Cindy came over to hold and soothe her colicky baby. Through those moments, they came to know they could count on each other.
"We can talk about anything," Cindy says. "And then we can move on and just support each other in whichever way we have to."
When Denice moved to Norway, staying connected became harder. International phone calls were expensive, and the tools that make keeping in touch today were not readily available. After returning to Washington, she focused on adjusting to life as a single parent and rebuilding her business.
It would be decades before the pair found their way back into each other's lives.
Making Friendship Part of the Week
A few years ago, the two ran into each other at the Gordon Family. As they reconnected, Cindy and Denice started meeting for coffee. But afternoon caffeine interfered with Denice's sleep, so they found another way to spend time together: classes at the Y.
Muscle Up has helped Cindy regain strength in her arm after a fracture. For Denice, having a friend set up for class makes busier mornings before work easier.
Those small acts of care give both women time with someone who knows them and understands what they've been through.
"It's very beneficial to have someone who knows your history," Denice shared.
Now, regular visits give them opportunities to follow up on family news and support each other through life's changes. With few relatives nearby, Denice says that connection brings a sense of family.
The children they once helped each other care for are now grown. Their conversations have changed, but the ease of being together remains. Three mornings a week, they keep building on a friendship that began nearly 40 years ago.