28 Days of Gratitude: Day 7

Nov. 7th- I am thankful for sisters.

In the summer of 1981 I broke my arm. School at just let out and I was playing outside in my neighbor’s yard. I was 11 and climbing in her tree when suddenly the branch I was leaning on broke in half, causing me to fall on my arm. Twisted behind my back, my arm was dislocated in two places. My friend yelled and ran to get my mom. I must have blacked out because the next thing I remember is laying on a stretcher and being lifted into an ambulance. I was crying and in so much pain, as my mom and sisters watch in horror.

When I came home later that night with a bright yellow sling around my neck, my sisters ran to the door to hug me. They were so happy I was home! They were 8 and 4 years old and co-presidents of my fan club. I let them try on my sling.

Most of my memories from childhood include my sisters. In fact, I don’t really remember a time when they weren’t around.

I was three when Baby A was born. I vaguely remember those early days, but according to my mother, I was a doting big sister. Following her everywhere and trying to pick her up. A few years later, another baby girl was born (Baby M) and our family was complete. We waited all afternoon for mom and dad to come home from the hospital with our new baby sister. Grandma and Grandpa were babysitting and we made signs to hang in the front window welcoming her home.

I absolutely adored being the big sister. I couldn’t wait to come home from school to find them waiting for me. We would play house and I was their mom. I rearranged the books on book shelves to create a library. (I even made them sign the books out!). One summer, I must have been 12 or so, I insisted that we practice our escape route in case of a fire. I have no idea why I felt the need for daily drills, but A went along with it, even following me out the window (we lived in a one story ranch). M was still too small to understand what we were doing, and I’m pretty sure mom would have put the kibosh on us trying to lift her out the window.

As we grew older, my sisters and I found new friends and new interests. We didn’t always get along and sometimes truly annoyed the heck out of each other. Both of my sisters are natural athletes. They played soccer, and pretty much excelled at every sport they tried. I on the other hand, am the complete opposite (thus, stuck with dancing, yearbook and student government.) We couldn’t be on more different ends of the spectrum.

However, we knew what it meant to be a sister and what family was all about. Not a day went by when my mother didn’t tell us that we were each other’s best friend. Even if we didn’t know it at 16, 13 and 9.

My sisters continue to be my best friends to this day. They are strong, independent and beautiful women. They are the first people I call when I need to vent, to laugh, or to cry. They are mommies of their own now, and what amazing moms they are. I am so grateful for my sisters! I love you A and M…