My Favorite Sister

My sister.  I think the only way we could be closer is if we had been twins.

Her name is Laura.  Her middle name was passed down from her Aunt, and had been passed down from her aunt.  Cool, huh?  If I had a girl, the middle name would be passed to her.  Annie Jean, Freddie Jean, Laura Jean.  I love family names!

My sister is six years older than me.  A great age difference, I think.  Close enough to be friends and get along well.  Far enough to have our own identity, activities and friends.  I idolized my big sister; wanted to be just like her.  Wanted to be with her and her friends.  Wanted to be what she wanted to be.  I learned so much from her; all good.

Our parents were very mindful to balance, very well, our time together and apart.  Sometimes they’d make my sister let her bratty little sister tag along.  Other times, that bratty little sister had to stay behind, and pout, because the big sister got to do things alone with her friends.  I know all of her friends, she knows all of mine.

We grew up in a little house near campus; back when it was safe to let your kids ride their bikes all over creation and come home when the street lights came on; and that’s exactly what we did. We stayed in the street for hours on end, played with the neighborhood friends, always had fun.

We had our own bedrooms, but I always wanted to be in my sister’s room.  Since we are girls, our mom let us sleep in the same room when I was little.  I still laugh when I think of how she’d whisper these funny voices in the dark.  She’d tell these crazy stories about “Eunice” and her family.  I’d try sooo hard to hold the giggles in, but eventually I’d bust and then would come the yell from the other room; “Girls, Go To Sleep!”  Mama was probably in the other room laughing at us – but we weren’t taking any chances.  We’d pipe down.  One thing I learned about my sister, though, when sleeping in the same room with her, is that she sleeps with her eyes open.  Still does.  It’s a talent.  And freaky.  She’d also lightly grind her teeth.  And I’m a light sleeper.  It was the oddest sound.  And, yes, after all these years, I still give her a hard time about all this.  That’s what bratty little sisters do, right?

We moved to a new house when I was 9 or 11 or something.  It was just before Laura’s senior year in high school.  It was important to stay in the same school zone so that she could finish her schooling with her friends.  Our parents were always good about considering things like that for us.  Laura was involved in the band at Godby High.  She plays flute.  If you’ve never heard her play, you’ve missed out.  She still plays.  She’s excellent.  She competed all through school.  Most years all the way to nationals.  She’s a long-term-follow-through kind of person.  That’s how she’s managed to play her flute all these years.  She’s in everything she does for the long haul.  Focused, driven, never gives up.  Wish I had those traits.

She’s always supported me.  Defended me.  Taught me.  I drag her in to things, she returns the favor.  It’s pretty much a given that when we have an “event”, we will both be there.  I don’t like to do things without her.  When I take on a project, I want her help, opinion, abilities.

We “vent” to one another.  Confide in one another.  Think the same thoughts.  We communicate without talking.  And, can’t be at funerals, weddings, libraries without something cracking us up and then us trying to contain the laughter that is sure to come rolling out.

We are so totally different, yet just alike.  We don’t look that much alike, but boy oh boy, when we roll our eyes, you KNOW we are sisters! She’s light-haired and light-eyed, like our daddy.  She’s always had long, straight, blonde hair.  She’s taller than me.

I don’t think I could function without her in my life.  She’s a strong woman.  Very talented.  Very smart.  She’s pretty and sweet and so giving.  She’s created a lifetime of dear memories for me; too many to even begin to write.  She’s the best Aunt Marshall could ever have.  She loves that boy better than anything.  And he loves her.  They have a special relationship.

There’s no way I could sum up everything about my sister.  You can look back over my posts and learn more about her.  She is someone you should know.  Laura, I love you.