This summer I have been lucky to spend one week with each of my sisters. My sister in Winnipeg and I got a week together while our kids were each at camps. We relaxed, went out for lunches, went on great bike rides through Assiniboine Forest and hung out. It was great! It is rare that we get time without kids to distract us and prevent us from visiting. In September I went to Colorado Springs where my youngest sister and her family lives. The scenery is amazing and the weather was great. We spent time together hanging out with the mountains on one side and Garden of the Gods on the other. We shopped, got a pedi, went out to eat, hiked and just spent time together.
Many of my friends have commented on how lucky I am to have sisters and more importantly sisters that I get along with. You know I don't take it for granted either. When we were growing up it was not always this way. My sister Melanie (she is two years younger) and I have had our moments. We had to share a bedroom for a couple of years and we had the masking tape down the room and my side was the messy side and hers was the neat side. We fought, called each other names and pretty much stayed out of each others way. My younger sister, Monica who is six years younger was the baby that I took care of at home. If I told her I was going to cut her hair she would let me and even though it looked like a person with a knife had cut it she did not complain. I really took the role of older sister to heart with her and become a strong caregiver.
Over the years we have dealt with our parents divorcing, family tragedies and raising kids together. We have sought out each others advice and email and chat one another for opinions, to vent and suggestions. I really can't imagine life without them. So, many others don't understand why they do not have that connection with their sister and I feel for them. I need my sisters to just get through the week. My life would not be the same without them and I am blessed to have them. When I have gone through struggles my sisters were the ones who checked up on me, called me, pushed me along, encouraged me and laughed and cried with me. My one sister gave me a little sign that says "how do people make it through life without a sister?" I have no idea and I am so glad that I don't have to find out,
