Sister Mine
My sister and I were typical siblings growing up. We loved each other then we fought like we hated each other and then we loved each other again. We celebrate birthdays, had childhood adventures, sang in church choir and discovered the wanton sickly wonderful world of rock n roll... all together. I was a awkward & shy, she was vivacious & bold... I wanted to be like her though I never told her. As we grew we became closer. Life as sisters became more and more important.
I struggled to get things right at times in my life... drugs, poor choices in men & financial growing pains. And while she also had her struggles and growing pains, she seemed to always shine even in the darkness. I am sure I disappointed her a few times as I struggled to find my center and footing but even if I did, she stood by me and helped me through. I somehow just wanted to make her as proud of me as I was of her. I missed the mark a few times but she never held it in my face even when we disagreed.
We leaned on one another, more than just sisters, we had become friends. We have had many adventures, laughed a lot, cried a lot but we have faced the storms and celebrated the sunshine together. We walked on either side of our mother through her gallant and courageous battle of a rare endometrial cancer. It was the perfect double edged sword. Yes we lost our mother at the young age of 68 but we spent every moment with her until she set sail on that a voyage we could not follow her on. As she sailed away that early pre-dawn morning she took with a little piece of each of our hearts but she left with us, her big love and light that transcends all the veils between the worlds. We were close before this but traveling this journey with momma brought us even closer. Sister time became a weekly affair. Lots of laughter and always full of love.
Late in this past March my sister was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Treatment started with chemo by the end of April. She was strong and positive, even continuing to work as she went through the side effects of the toxins coursing through her already compromised body. After chemo landed her the hospital both of her “off” weeks, they stopped that treatment and we waited for surgery in September, was then postponed to October. She was bright & funny even when I know she felt like hell! We even took some time to do our annual canning excursion before surgery in October. A ten hour surgery that lead to five days in the SICU and a total of ten days in the hospital.Through all of this she kept her sense of humor, her grace & her positive spirit. Even when her face was puffy and a tube up her nose! She is home now trying to heal and adjust to this new part of her life and gearing up for the next step to kicking cancer’s a**!
She always has a smile on her face and always looks at the bright spot... She amazes me, sometimes she literally took my breath away as we walk and continue to walk this journey. She is the strongest person I know and I am blessed to have her as my sister and my friend. We have walked many mile together on Life's Path... We have seen the Light in the Darkness, we have seen love in its purest form, we held on to one another in times of sorrow... She has taken me in from life's storms, held my hand & picked up the pieces of my broken heart, has made me laugh till I cried & let me cry while she found my smile... She is strong, loving, funny, smart & fierce... We have shared many tears & smiles & have many more to share. I love the person she was, is & will be... I know we have a ways to go on this journey but we walk these steps together and bask in the sunshine on the other side.
