S Club Mama

Yesterday I was going to Facetime with my big sister, Amber, around 1:30 - sometime after church. We were all sitting at our kitchen counter, eating lunch, when I saw a couple of people coming up our driveway. I'm thinking "who is that? Were we expecting someone and I forgot?" The girl was looking down when I looked out and it looked like this gal we go to church with so I thought 'huh, she changed out of her dress..." Then she looked up and I freaked out. I don't think I freaked out that much but Big A says it sounded like someone got hit by a car outside...so I freaked out. I ran to our front door, unlocked it, opened it, and ran barefooted to the open arms of.... my big sister! All the way from England. She flew across the "pond" to surprise her husband (who's working back home for the summer), her in-laws, our parents, our other sister, and me. And probably some other of her various family members. like how we match? yeah we planned ...

I have two sisters: one older by 23 months, one younger by 6 years. In the 10 years I've been out of high school (where has that time gone?), my little sister and I have gotten much closer than we were while I was living at home. It helps that we no longer share a bed (like we did for several years on the bottom bunk), room, bathroom, town. Strange how distance can sometimes create closeness. Anyway, my sister has overcome quite a bit to become the woman she is today. She had some learning disabilities that required her to study much harder than I ever did to receive not quite the merits I did. I'm not saying she's dumb because, despite her blond moments that we share, she is quite smart. And she is passionate. She began to study American Sign Language as a foreign language at our shared high school. After some instances of bullying (and lack of administration movement in this area), she decided to transfer schools oddly to our rivaling school. At this school, she was a...

The day has arrived although it seems like it shouldn't. Only yesterday we were torturing you  with Polly Pockets and rainbow jump ropes. Now you're growing up, a young woman with dreams and hopes and a very big mouth  (some things never change). I am so proud of you! I can't wait to see what the future brings. Happy graduation day, baby sister!

18 years ago today my baby sister was born. Through many things: sharing a bed, kicking her out of said bed, tying her up with jump ropes, and dressing her in Mom's clothes with Polly Pockets in her hair... we have been sisters. Fighting, hair pulling, punching out back door windows, name calling... loving, sharing, talking, commiserating... sisters. Happy birthday, Alyson (aka Aunt "Owie")! We love you! 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