When I close my eyes, for seconds we are Thelma and Louise rounding treacherous mountain curves but not running from anything or to anything, just two girls on the go. Sisters.
Truth is, the curves are more beautiful than treacherous, and the only approximation to Thelma and Louise is a convertible, but it's not even teal. Top down, wind slapping my face, my hair Medusa wild. I inhale deeply, having learned to sense the extra in the ordinary. We're on our way to pick up lunch and pick raspberries.
We remember moments, right? Glimpses. Snapshots. Here then gone, but forever held tightly in clamped fist.
Nobody loves me like my sister, and it is because of that I feel like I've failed my daughter in some way; she has brothers. Only sisters will completely understand that.
We pass Goats on a Roof. It's a Southern train wreck and my neck turns to rubber. She indulges me and stops, because, really? Goats on a Roof?! She waits patiently while I take picture after cell phone picture of those goats on a roof.
Until I'm gorged and we move on to the next feast. Raspberries.
Why I've never gone berry pickin' is beyond me but she intends to remedy that. They're $2.00 a pint, the honor system, and something about that blesses my heart. Restores my faith in man. Makes me happy I'm Southern.
The bushes look bare so berry pickin' becomes a treasure hunt…. With familiar green pint basket in hand, we scour each row. She squeals with every find, sampling first fruits to make sure they're worthy. "This is a taste of heaven!" or "That one just melted in my mouth!" and for some reason I think Anne of Green Gables, not that I remember her ever picking raspberries.
Guileless and spontaneous, my sister's enthusiasm compels me to look beyond the sweat searing my clothes as second skin, to ignore the knee-high weeds lashing with each step, to brush away the gnats and the flies and the stinging creatures that normally would send me running.
She bosses. "Only pick the biggest, juiciest ones." "If they're too red, they're too ripe." "Don't you post that picture unless I look skinny in it." She can't help but tell me what to do, she's been at it since I exited my mother's womb.
"Are you going to write about The Divine Pickin' of the Raspberries?" she asks and I tell her maybe.
Which only sometimes means "Yes."
I think I’m gonna take my sister berry picking!
Robin… how sweet! Having a sister I totally get this. “She can’t help but tell me what to do.” As the older sister, I totally get that too! 🙂 Those goats… oh my goodness! lol
love, love, love…
This made me grin and sigh and smile…all at the same time!
Oh, Robin. I love this!! I worry that my Libbie will not have a sister, too. My sister and I have certainly been through up and down and DOWN and up, but I can’t imagine life without her.
Is that you in the first picture? It looks so much like Rachel!
Karmyn, I hope you do :).
Jennifer, ha! It takes one to know one!! 🙂
Lora, surprise!!!
Deidra, my kind of hat trick :).
VW, We’ve had our own roller coaster rides, but now it seems like we need each other more than ever. Which is sweet, ya know? And yes, that’s me :). I wanted to get a better picture but it started raining, dang it…so I went with what I had.
OH! Here’s to sisters! I can’t imagine my life without my two sisters. Last summer, we road tripped to Austin together and had the BEST time. The only thing that could have possibly made it better would have been raspberry picking, for sure.
Hi Robin – love this post! My sister and I didn’t get along very well growing up, but now we are the best of friends. I wouldn’t trade the magic of sisterhood for anything! Now that my daughter has a sister, I think she gets it, too. Thanks for the beautiful picture of love between sisters.
PS. Love the goats! 🙂
I’ve always wanted a sister. Didn’t get one. But I did have 2 girls 18 months apart. They are best friends and do everything together. This month begins a new chapter for them both. One starts college and the other will be left behind in HS.
My youngest is struggling at the thought of going back to school without her there. Even in HS.
When I watch them….I’m reminded how precious having a built-in bestie really is.
Something funny–our son (he’s oldest) just returned from a long summer serving in Wisconsin as a worship leader. He was only home from college long enough to attend his sister (she’s the middle) graduation before he left. The other night our daughter (the grad) came into our room to complain about how annoying HE IS!! She was exasperated by his weird noises, teasing and loud wrestling! She said, “CAN’T YOU GUYS HEAR HIM? HE MAKES NOISES IN HIS ROOM, IN THE HALLWAY, AT THE TABLE, IN THE BATHROOM–EVERYWHERE!!?”
We laughed at her while trying to reassure her…she’d miss him when he was gone.
NOTE: sisters are so different than brothers
What a fun trip! You’ve inspired me to order (because I’m the oldest) my sister to do something memorable with me. 🙂 Haha!
I worry a little about my daughter, because she’s the only one among three boys. Moving back home this summer has brought her many girl cousins though, so we may be just fine. 🙂