Sisters

This last week my sister and I went on our annual "Sister Retreat."  We fished, floated in the water, napped in a hammock, and laughed until we snorted! (I know...not a pretty thought...but there was nothing snorted out our noses!)
This got me thinking about how sisters "arrive" in our lives.

You see...sisters are a quirky lot.  We can't pick who will arrive or what they will be like.  We can't say that what we really wish is that they should arrive full grown and fully trained!

Our parents don't bother to ask, those of us that were here first, if we wish we had a sister.  What would our answer be?  Do we even understand the question or the implications of how a "younger sister" will change our life forever?!

At first glance, the parents lead us to believe the new small "creature" will be loads of fun.  She'll be a playmate and a confidant.  REALLY?  All she does is cry! And then I begin to notice she's getting way more attention than me! 

Who thought this would be a good idea?  Oh, yeah...those parents!  (The same parents who always think cleaning your room and going to bed while it's still light outside is a good idea.)

"A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double."  Toni Morrison

 
Pretty soon that new, small baby girl settles down and begins to fit into "my" world. I make my first attempt to get to know her. She is kinda fun...a dress up doll!  (She's also pretty slobbery!)  She's always happy to see me and smiles whenever I enter the room. I can begin to see she might be worth keeping around for awhile.

“If you don’t understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to w
ring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child.”–Linda Sunshine

She loves to do what I say!  I am the boss of her...and I like that!  I watch her; I play with her; I comfort her.  She is with me all the time.  I like that too.  She's mine...and those parents...I never think they take care of her as well as I do. 

“Sisters is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship.”–Margaret Mead

Time passes and as we grow, we change. 

We begin to choose separate paths. Different life choices. Different friends. Different personalities. We no longer seem to fit together.

“Having a sister is like having a best friend you can’t get rid of. You know whatever you do, they’ll still be there.“–Amy Li

Marriage, children...time and distance.  We became strangers. 

Lost tears and laughter.  Lost years. 

BUT...we are sisters.

We have memories and history we share.  We have family ties.

We still have time...or do we?

My sister and I now enjoy the fact that we live close enough to be able to spend time together.  We have the luxury of taking time off to get away together. Time to relax and reacquaint ourselves with each other.

Shopping, eating, talking, and laughter.

Secrets, shared memories and quiet rest.

I enjoy the time with my sister.  I enjoy who she is and who she has become.

She doesn't let me be the boss of her anymore (sad day!)

But...she is more fun than most people I know!

So...if you have a sister, make time for her (whether she's younger or older than you.)  She knows you better than most...and will put up with more than most!

 

Love you, girl...and look forward to where ever we go next year!

(And how 'bout no black eye next year...too hard to explain that it was a fishing accident!)

“There’s a special kind of freedom sisters enjoy. Freedom to share innermost thoughts, to ask a favor, to show their true feelings. The freedom to simply be themselves.”–Anonymous

till tomorrow...(call your sister!)
debi