I loved this book and had a terrible time tearing myself away. These three women deal with what life hands them in a "matter of fact" way and then, with the help,love and full support of each other carry on. Friendship, is the essence of this book, undying and everlastng frienship. What a wonderful thing to experience! As they grow old together their lives change in many ways but these women have what it takes to make them happy, themselves. They know that the responsibility of living a full and happy life lies soley on them yet the admirable thing about this is that they seem to have always known this just as they know that friendship is a commitment which they do not take lightly.