Merry Christmas Sis
I have thought long and hard about what to give my big sister for Christmas this year. Seriouslywhat do you give a person whose home is on wheels and room to spare is nonexistent.
My sister and her very special husband of forty years have chosen a life many would envy and few could accomplish. They have chosen a simple life much like one of yesteryear, a life of pickingup stakes and moving when the desire strikes.The trouble is it makes gift giving a challenge. Mac who was always a collector wants no cutsie knickknacks no room. Art work is out no where to hang it. Clothes might be okay but there isn’t a lot of room for anything not absolutely necessary. Pity her not, she loves her new life. She has discovered persons and places of great interest and seen so much more than she ever thought she would.
Consequently, when deciding on this year’s gift I wondered what she has asked most of me in the past few years. The only thing she has asked for is for me to write something. She has asked for a gift of me and so finally I shall attempt it.
My big sister is pretty amazing. She writes, she crafts, and she creates great memories.
I have been thinking of my memories of Mac. One of the first memories is the Christmas my mom was in the hospital. My Grandmother came to take care of us and tried to put up the tree. When my dad came home he seemed irritated and one of those family arguments that seem to happen at holidays broke out. I remember that we kids at least the youngest of us (me) were crying and my big sister made everything okay. We didn’t know yet that my new baby brother had died just four days before Christmas, it is no wonder that the adults were so upset. My mom came home for Christmas and she and my dad made Christmas special for all of us. My sister surprised me when she told me that our Granddad would be there too.
Mac made a lot of events or nonevents special. She taught me how to pretend to be asleep when I wasn’t so that we could watch the Outer Limits without our parents knowing. She taught me how to swipe pudding from the fridge (although I seemed to get caught for both of us) and how to squirt Ready Whip into everyone’s mouth so if mom came around the corner it was in my hand. Wait a minute, it seems now that she was teaching me how to save her butt not mine. When you worship your big sister you don’t think of the consequences you just love her.
My sister has been there for most of the biggest events in my life. She went trick or treating for me when I fractured my skull and couldn’t get out of bed. She took me to the movies when my mom was angry with me and wanted me out of her hair for awhile. She helped me buy my parent’s Christmas gifts and really made me believe that I had picked something very special even when it might just be Jean Nate again. Mac dragged me to concerts with her boyfriend (now her spouse). She taught me how to shave my arms and legs. She picked me to be in her wedding. She ate ice cream with me when the first love of my life broke up with me. When I fell in love she let me live with her in Texas for six months while I decided if he was the right man for me even though my parents and the rest of my family weren’t convinced. He is still the right guy after 34 years. She was my matron of honor. She even put her three little boys on a bus with her from El Paso, Texas to Adams, Massachusetts in order to be there for the wedding. Then while I was sick in bed the whole week before the event Mac was in the kitchen with my mom and my aunt preparing the food for 150 people. When we lost our first child she was on the phone with me every other day for weeks. My mom took the opposite days all to be sure that I would be okay.
When my daughter was born she came back to Massachusetts to surprise me and to be my baby’s Godmother. When my twins were expected to need risky surgery while my husband was deployed she came to help with my daughter and first son. She helped me overcome the maze of agencies dealing with disabled children.
Mac and I have laughed together, cried together and yelled together. Our children take bets on how long we can share a space without fighting. The winner is usually the one who chose the shortest time. We have tried venture after venture to move our families forward. We always have great ideas but lack something in execution but we make memories together. We have each opened our homes to the other at one time or another and truth be told have both loved and hated doing so but would without a doubt do it again and again.
We as many sisters are very competitive. She is the better singer; I am the better Scrabble player. We have great debates about almost everything. I wouldn’t give it up.
My sister is pushy in a good way. She can guilt me into almost anything. She could not push me into this writing though. I had to find a reason for myself. Little did I know that my reason would be Mac.
Big sisters are little sisters training ground. If a big sister tries and screws up a little sister will know to try another way. When a big sister picks a good man to marry a little sister should pay attention and pick someone with the same qualities. A little sister should never try to be a clone of her older sister but to be a complement to her. I have my own thoughts and feeling about things all of them formed through my parent’s eyes and my sibling’s reactions. My self confidence is supported by my sister and her faith in me, a faith that often I don’t have in myself.
There are three women in my family who are my inspiration. First and foremost is my mom. My sister and my daughter are the others. These are three very strong caring smart women. My mom has passed away and so my sister has taken on some of my mom’s role. She works to keep me grounded and without realizing it often tempers my passion for things with a reality check.
I am proud to have Mac (yarntangler) as my sister. Bloggers, you are truly lucky to have yarntangler amongst you. She can spin a great tale for your enjoyment and her journey has produced much to learn about.
Keep reading her blog at http:// ramblings-yarntangler.blogspot.com
Merry Christmas Sis
