"A sister is a little bit of childhood
that can never be lost."
~Marion C. Garretty
When I was young, sometimes I got the impression people felt sorry for me; their perception, thankfully, was not my reality, and if they could've lived inside my head, they would have known their concern was unwarranted.
This must've been the result of good parenting and God's grace–as long as I can remember, I've always been reasonably confident in "who" I am, believing that whoever that is is enough. This doesn't mean I haven't had moments of doubt or insecurities, just that I'm not dominated by those emotions.
A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.
~ Isadora James
I have a a beautiful sister, 16 months my senior, a blue-eyed brunette whose fast-growing horse's mane was the only thing I ever remember envying. Well, sometimes the blue eyes, too. She was the "pretty" sister and I was the "cute" one; she was "long and silky" and I was "short and sassy". Do you remember those Clairol (I think) shampoos in the late 70s? My sister actually WON a Teen Magazine "Long and Silky" contest and her prizes included wooden stacked sandals (what were they called??). I, on the other hand, sported a dreadful Dorothy Hamill haircut–the cowlick did NOT suit the style, but no one bothered to tell me!
She relishes her role of First Born and Big Sister. Boys might be boys, but us girls? We could fight with the best of 'em! Vividly, I recall being pinned, her towering over me…and spitting… {yuck! how could she?} in my face!
Today she has two daughters of her own, giving her insight into our relationship. In recent years when she was compelled to apologize–tearfully!–about big sister mistreatments, I shrugged it off because never once did I think she didn't love me to absolute pieces!
And then there was the time she abandoned me….
"If
you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and
want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only
child."
~ Linda Sunshine
We were in the Beechwood parking lot, arguing about something I've long forgotten, clearly at the boiling point. In typical teen drama form, I hopped out of the car, darted across the lot and started walking home (a few miles away on a busy road with no sidewalk and a narrow, grassy shoulder). I was certain she'd pick me up any second.
Wearing a grimace but losing my swagger, it didn't take long to regret my hasty decision. I was shaken by the woosh of cars speeding by, felt the ominous presence of snakes slithering in the roadside weeds, and was frustrated this foolish foot race of mine was taking longer than anticipated.
Where was she?? I was furious she had passed me! Imagining her laughing her head off did little to diffuse my anger or assuage my serpentine fears.
A sister smiles when one tells one's stories – for she knows where the decoration has been added.
~ Chris Montaigne
When I was a quarter mile from home, she finally drove up alongside me in her brown lemon of a Cutlass Supreme. In one motion, she slammed her car into park and jumped out cussin' and fussin' and SWINGING at me! She hadn't realized I had made it out of the parking lot and had spent the last half hour looking for me, worried sick.
I was feelin' the sister-love in the midst of her feline attack.
Big sisters are the crab grass in the lawn of life.
~ Charles M. Schulz
A year ahead of me in school, when she went away to college I ached. Not only did half my wardrobe go with her, but a piece of my heart, too. Simultaneously, I welcomed and dreaded the weekends she came home because I knew Sunday was just blinks away and that meant her leaving again. When we were younger, for a time we shared a room, and on cold winter nights we "spooned" to keep warm–I wonder how many secrets we shared as we drifted off to sleep.
Though we've had seasons of distance, mostly we've been thick as molasses, sticking more tightly to one another because we understood we needed each other. There's a "knowing" between sisters, an unspoken, heart-linked language, perhaps because of common history or shared blood or for us, great loss at such a young age.
"To
the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters.
We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We
share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets,
family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time."
~ Clara
Ortega
This year to celebrate my birthday, she wanted to do something special. In a single day she made up for a lifetime of {imagined} childhood abuses, but don't tell her that–I'm hoping her guilt will perpetuate an annual tradition. It involved a delicious lunch followed by spa pedicures….
Pretty pomegranate drinks & pretty purple-tinged posies…
Pedicure poses and pink-painted toesies…
Whirlpool relaxin' until we were shriveled like raisins…
But mostly, just being together, a gift in itself, to reconnect physically that which is already bound in the heart :).
Oh, that was a beautiful “sister story!” I am an only child that called my dog “my brother!” LOL
~Flip Girl
What a wonderful post about your sister!!! I love my sisters too (even though one isn’t a-speakin’ to me right now over perceived slights and 30 years of drama).
My sis and I are only 18 months apart, although she treats me like she’s ten years older. LOL. So much of your experiences mirror my own.
Awww, what a great story! As a Sissy I can tell you this: find a place to sell this story!!
I’m the eldest of all my sibs…6 yrs. older than the next in line and 10 yrs. older than the youngest, and am probably closest to the baby! And I was Sissy to the fambuhly!
Nice story! I’m the middle of three sisters, so I can identify with sister dynamics as both a younger and an older. You conjure some fun memories. 🙂
P.S. Love the cocktail napkins. 😉
Oh, that was a beautiful post. snif snif.
I have two younger brothers. Love them dearly but I always wanted a sis.
Loved this story! A Chicken Soup story that lets you live the memory and feel the emotions.
thank you for reminding me…I am always a child in the memories of my younger sister, Holly, who died at 16. I will never laugh and sing that way again.
Thank you, Flip Girl :). Well, they DO say a dog is man’s best friend, lol.
I’ve often thought that only children must be especially close to a friend
or two….
S i g h…isn’t that the craziest thing? How people (family) can
manufacture reasons to be estranged. I can’t help but usually think it’s
more about “them”, not “me”, ya know? I hope eventually things smooth out,
though…I imagine it does a number on Pamela AND you…and puts Amanda
somewhere in the middle.
hehe, I figured some of my experiences were universal. Big sisters are big
sisters, no matter what! 🙂
Wow, Carrie…first born and old enough to be a BIG help when the others
came. I sometimes call my sister “Sissy” and used that same term when my
others were born (but it never stuck). I had to smile with your “find a
place to sell this story” remark…THAT would be FUN! 🙂
I’m actually a middle child, too, but my younger siblings are brothers (one
just 4 years younger, the other 18!). Hmmm, we can relate, no? And I LOVE
you clicked through to the napkins! They didn’t seem to fit the flow of the
post, so that’s why I only linked to them. A definite smile-maker, though
:).
On one hand I was VERY aware of writing this post; in the sense that I knew
my daughter would read it, and how badly she wants a sister of her own. She
loves her brothers but oh, how she wants a sister, too. (Thanks for your
sweet words:).)
Ah…Peggy…I LOVED your comment! A Chicken Soup story? Maybe THAT’S
where I need to “sell” the essay per Editor Gal/Carrie :).
YAEEEEE! YOU COMMENTED!!! WAHOOO!! But…I know it comes with sad memories
attached. I can’t imagine that pain, Dawn :(, and if I didn’t cling to a
God Who Knows in light of it, I really couldn’t handle it. Of course the
depth of that tragedy changed you, altering your laughing and singing
“voice”…. I’m thankful that you found a new way to do both…your
presence brings encouragement and laughter to me :). xo
Great sissie story!
I have an older sister too and can totally relate. Although, much more of an age difference (14 yrs.) – the bond that weathers all life’s trials and celebrations only grows stronger.
Love the pics and those cocktail nampkins – my sis was the recipient of a similar lot! :p
Hey – maybe there should be a national sister’s day?!
Excellent, I can relate with ur story a lil, though am not a girl :). I’ve an elder sis and cousins. We all used to visit our granny’s place during our vacation and thats when we used to spend our best days. Now we miss those days, everyone’s busy with something or other :).
You have written it very beautifully
You know what, Liz, I think there IS a National Sister Day. We must
celebrate this year (let me know if you find details…or we can initiate
our own!) :).
Thank you :). You reminded me of some of my happiest “cousin times”,
too…where we played outside from daylight to dusk (and after!) and learned
that boredom fosters the best of imagination. What simpler times…what
wonderful memories (thanks for jogging a few more 🙂 ).
I am the youngest of two girls as well. so this was especially sweet to read today. big sisters are a very good thing. Now I want a pomegranate drink and a pedicure with my sister. This was a lovely post, it really was. She must be one special lady.
Another great post, Robin! I laughed out loud a few times 🙂 Thanks for sharing the pics – you two are BOTH “pretty” AND “cute.” 😉
Your comment made me smile, Heather :). She’s a GREAT big sis and I can’t
imagine growing up without her! I hope you and your sis manage to share
eats & treats, soon…it’s good for the sister-soul :).
Do you have a sister? All of a sudden, I’m drawing a blank…..?? LOVE
that you laughed out loud!! 😀
Yay for sisters!! I am the middle sister of 3 girls and cannot imagine my life without them.
So glad you have a sister you can love and be friends with…
If they have a “Sisters” book coming out…that would be a great place to start! Or in a book of Sassy Sister Stories penned by Pensieve. 🙂
Me, too…! And as I’ve said before, I hate that my own daughter doesn’t
have a sister; she’s still hoping it’s not “too late” (yikes!).
🙂
Ya know, I think there is a “Sisters” book already out. Hmmm, wonder why
they didn’t interview us?? 😉
It is such a blessing to see you and Lora together. The little girls in the picture bring back tender memories of Sunday School days at First Christian Church. And the lovely young women making memories together makes me smile with joy knowing how happy I am when my own daughters fellowship together in special ways. Your Mother would be proud or both of you.
Valentine Blessings to you and Lora!
Debbie Ginn Settle