My Sister, My Friend

Sisterhood is such a unique bond.  Whether you are a sister friend or a sister by blood; it is a gift to most, and it just keeps on giving.  Recently, my Aunt Nancy gave me a necklace called, My Sister My Friend, because of it's special artistic shape.  It has no beginning and no end......it goes on and on.  That's how I look at my relationship with Chrissy along with my other sisters.  Oceans, mountains, distance, death and new life can not break the bond that we started such a long time ago.  It is forever changing as I have learned throughout my life. 

My relationship with Chrissy wasn't always a smooth one, but as I came to learn as we got older, she wanted to be me and I wanted to be her.  I am four years older than my little sissy, and for four years I was living "high on the hog" (got it right this time Frank) because for those four years I was the baby of the family and pretty much got what I needed.  People carried me around and took me to fun places.  Who would complain?  Then came that moment when mom's stomache started to peak, and I had all sorts of questions.  I was rooting for a baby brother because that would still mean that I was the baby girl of the family.  Needless to say, Chrissy was a girl. 

I was asked for some input on the name of this new baby girl.  I guess it was mom's way to include me in on the action of a new baby and family member.  In 1968, "Bewitched" was my favorite program, and naturally Tabitha was my favorite name.  Who could dislike such a perfect name?  I had the name in the bag, or so I thought.  When I mentioned this to mom, she sort of paused, and then ever so sweetly mentioned her choice of names and out came "Christine".  Then I paused.....hmmm.....wasn't vibin' with me, but who I am, right?  The kid who wasn't going to be the baby anymore.   Then they brought her home, and I was hooked.  This dark-skinned baby with loads of dark hair was all mine, or so I thought. 

There were times we laughed so hard; we fell over.  Just like sisters do.  Other times, I wanted to rip her hair out for wearing my shirt or acting like a spoiled brat.  Just like sisters do.  Then as we grew, and we met our husbands, we understood.  She, being the baby of the family wanted to be large and incharge like me, or so she thought.  I, wanted to be her, the little sister who seemed to be so carefree, loved by everyone and so cute.  As we grew into adult sisters we both realized how much we loved and depended on each other. 

When my kids were sick, I called her to confirm my treatments and vice versa.  When Marty would do something that was outrageous or he made me mad, I would call her.  When I doubted my own abilities, she was the one who would boost me up.  Some days I would call her when I was down, and even before speaking, she would say, "What's wrong?"  She just knew, and that my friends is what a sister friend is.

I miss my sister friend the way I used to know her, but I am learning and hoping to know her more in the spiritual sense.  As I see miracles happen because of her life and death; I'm learning new meaning in life. Learning to "Let Go And Let God" because some things just ARE......you can't change them.  One could spend an entire lifetime trying to control it all or question it all, and sometimes I go there, but there isn't always answers.  The only answer I know is that I had a gem in my little sister.  So for my older sisters, Deni and Sue, we'll get through this awkwardness and sick feeling.  We learned to get through mom and dad's passing....so this, too, we shall learn to move forward.

My sister, my friend, I love you dearly and forever will.