Today is my sister’s birthday. Technically, she’s my “half-sister” as we share different fathers but we never refer to each other in that way. She is my mom’s first baby girl and she was quickly followed by 2 more little sisters before our mom and their father divorced nearly 6 decades ago.
In truth, Kim and I are dissimilar in a multitude of ways ~ both physically and otherwise ~ we’re not opposite, but definitely different. She is, however, a part of my very earliest memories. It was always a treat to me to have my sisters visit when I was very small because my little brother wasn’t born until I was almost 6 and without my sisters, I was an only child and had to entertain myself. When my sisters would visit, there was far more play and fun in my home. Swimming in the pool, playing in the yard, someone to play Barbie’s with, someone to play dress up with and, naturally, my mom seemed so much happier with her 4 girls; more complete.
My sisters visited us often and we visited them often, too, as my memory serves. It seemed pretty normal to me, I suppose, since we only really know what we ourselves experience.
As I became a teenager, the visits from my sisters became more individual. They each had relationships of their own by that time and didn’t flock to my house as a trio as they had before. It was then that my relationships with each sister took on more importance and began to be more clearly defined.
Kim became a steady rock in my life. If I needed something, she was there. No questions asked. When I was in a car accident at the age of 17, she was there. She came to a few high school football games with me and I pointed out what guy I had liked the week prior and the one I was currently interested in. She was my Maid of Honor. She lent my husband and I money to get a used car when we had a little baby and needed reliable transportation. She plucked Devon out of the pool once when Devon took a nose dive and I sat paralyzed with fear. (Please note that she was dressed in business attire and I was in a bathing suit). We played on a co-ed softball team together, drank together (she was never much good at that) and did Disney a dozen times together. She came and helped me take care of newborn Nicolas when I suffered an ear infection. She’s my “go to”. Now, we have had plenty of fights. Plenty of disagreements but also plenty of fights….I have a permanently crooked pinky finger from one such episode and we were adults!
She makes me a little crazy at times and I’m sure I reciprocate but that’s what sisters do, right? Make each other a little nuts?
Anyway, she is 60 today. So Happy Birthday, Kim…. thanks for always being there for me. You’re a great sister….in fact, all 3 of my sisters are great. They helped take care of my dad last year every bit as much, or more, than my brother and I. I am truly blessed to have 4 siblings.
Be blessed!
Amy