Just your average day? Not really. This day is the day that my sister graced the Earth with her presence. Today is also the day my fourth child was due-to-arrive, 35 year ago. Why, o why wasn’t my son born on this day?
My sister was very excited back then when I gave her the news. I know she was thinking my delivery would be a c-section and therefore scheduled on her birthday! But it was not to be. We decided to birth him before the end of the year for a much-needed tax deduction.
This past year my sister left us behind and went on to Heaven ahead of us. I cannot tell you how much I miss her. If I tell you a little bit about her, then maybe you will understand what she meant to me.
My sister was 14 when I was born. She helped take care of me. According to her, she was my MAMA. I don’t doubt that was the way it happened. But I do know that acted like a dear and devoted mother all throughout my life; during the time our mother was estranged from us and even after mother had passed and we had all reconciled it. Or did we ever? A few years later, and she was diagnosed with her future path... the way in which she would go..
Defender. As a child, when the other siblings teased me, she would defend me. She was the most peaceful person in our family. Not PERFECTLY peaceful, but pretty peaceful.
Teacher. My sister taught me the meaning of true love. She demonstrated a loving, partnering marriage and as a young child of 6, I saw it play out during my formative years. She and my brother-in-law were living proof that marriage could work and that it was hard work, but it was worth it all. !
Historian. My sister loved family. Just the concept of it. She knew all of our family heritage and proudly proclaimed that we all were RAWLs. (That's plural to Rawl not Rawlses) She could answer any question about any cousin in our family! This history was important to her.
Manager. She was a smart business person. I’d have to say she got that from our father. I believe we all got SOME business sense from our father who was self-taught and taught us with on-the-job training. Some more than others. She managed a household. She managed a classroom. She was a leader.
Put-together. She was an organized person. I loved going to visit her; I came home with motivation to straighten and organize my stuff. She loved knowing where everything was in her home. “A place for everything and everything in its place.” OK so she might have gone a little crazy if stuff was not in the right place... !
Teacher of Children. She was an awesome teacher. Okay, so she never actually taught me in school, but I believe she could seriously teach some sixth grade math!
Traveler. She loved to travel and sought adventure! The hubs and I traveled with she and my brother-in-law to Central America in May of 2007. The memories we made together with be with me forever. By traveling together for an extended time, we learned more about the two of them. Every time I say, "Are you sure about that?" I think of her. :-)
Talented. She loved music and had an incredible soprano voice. Throughout her high school years she learned she had the talent and won many awards for her voice. Later she enjoyed her church choir and the camaraderie associated with it. But music gave her her infectious joy that I so wanted to imitate.
Warrior. My sister was a fighter. She enjoyed quality of life and would strive to do everything she could to keep herself strong. Watching her made me realize the true meaning of the words, battling cancer. I could never accept the fact that she was not going to be around for my entire life. I had never known life without her in it.
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| When she attend my weekend crop at the Lake. She didn't bring enough to do. |
Preservationist. She was an avid scrapbooker. This fact about my sister is essentially the hardest one to live without. She was my first scrap partner. When we were together, my creativity just flowed. She was instrumental in helping me create a “grief album” after I suffered loss. “Choose your favorite photo and that will be your title page,” she directed. She was right. As she was most of the time.
We discovered Creative Memories the same day in November of 1995. We attended our first directional class the next week at the YWCA. We were both hooked and our albums were the subject of a lot of our conversations. We motivated each other and enjoyed each other albums. It was our thing. My sister taught me the importance of preserving her family history. When she left Earth, her husband, her siblings, each child and each grandchild had their own albums to cherish. I will always think of her when i scrapbook over 16 pictures on one page.
I miss her so much. "I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living. My Big Sister you'll be
