Sunday, January 29, 2017

There were never such devoted sisters....



Lucie: "Nora, I think you ate a really good dinner."

Nora: "No, YOU ate a really good dinner... you had almost more than ME!" (She didn't. This is an absolute lie.)

Lucie: "But I think YOU ate a really good dinner, because, I LOVE you!"



BARF.

It's okay, I'm allowed to have that reaction, even as their mom. I promise. In fact, BECAUSE I'm their mom, I get to make that call, and I say, yes, in this case, a "BARF" response is sometimes what's called for.

But, this. This is sister love. Right here. Innocent, unconditional, and, well, always when I least expect it.


These girls are so in love with each other. Like, so much, that it sometimes makes us nearly cringe and gag as their parents. And yet, somehow - in between all this lovey-language and hugging and baby talk to each other - they are screaming and hitting and snatching toys from each other and mortal enemies. Day and night, Jekyl and Hyde, whatever you want to call it.... these little Two-Faces can switch it on and off like nobody's business.




It's a sister thing. 


I remember this too, with my sister, but as an adult, feel like the petty arguing and fighting over toys or clothes or which game to play or who-hit-who-first make up a very small percentage of the childhood memories I have of the two of us. I do remember, very clearly, lots of make-believe... using our young brains and active imaginations to create our own little worlds - playing "apartments" in our bedrooms upstairs, or "store" - or building houses out of couch cushions or lawn chairs and beach towels - or just running laps around the coffee table listening to Elvis's Blue Hawaii or the Cabbage Patch Kids record. I see echoes of these scenes when I'm called into Nora's room to see an after-breakfast "performance" of Moana (involving a lot of jumping off the bed "into the ocean" and improv songs that are definitely not found on the soundtrack), or see cart-loads of stuff wheeled into the living room for a picnic in the "woods" complete with winter hats and gloves and scarves and various wild stuffed animals. That is, until, Lucie explodes because Nora sang over her part of the finale song, or jumped too soon, or brought TWO picnic blankets out when OBVIOUSLY there's only supposed to be ONE blanket for the picnic, even if this picnic is apparently taking place in the arctic.


I think, as sisters, we made it through adolescence pretty well - not too many actual physical fights (I will not forget the times that I playfully slapped her on the side of the face and ran away - on more than one occasion - just knowing how furious it made her). And, most of our arguments (that I can remember anyway) only centered around me complaining that I wasn't invited or welcomed to hang out with my older sister and friends at the point in your lives when a four-year age difference is most dramatic. I'm left now with what seems like half a lifetime of really great memories with an awesome, (only slightly) older version of myself in many ways, who I consider my very best girlfriend that knows me, understands me, and loves me, more than anyone else.




I watch my girls play and hug and fight and wrestle and cry and then hug again, and wish and hope with all my heart that when they're old enough to realize it, they'll be so lucky to see what they really have in each other.


.....Okay, now it's your turn - don't worry, I'll allow it. I deserve it: 

BAAARRRRRFFF.

4 comments:

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...


And between all the *barf* talk and the dry-eyed-my-heart-is-a-stone moments (because why would you shed a single tear when your heartstrings are being stretched to nearly snapping while watching the most sentimental and tender of all romantic comedy scenes AND every other woman in the world around you is bawling her eyes out?), my sister writes a blog that has her big sister crying (surprise) into the fur of her sleeping cat on her living room couch. However, unlike the tears of anger and vengeance shed after yet another skin-breaking bite to the arm, these tears are ones of love and gratitude for my "little" sister. Wiser and more wonderful than I will ever be, she's my Ramie and my best friend. Watching my nieces love each other is, quite literally, one of the greatest joys in my life. I love them with all my heart. And I love you, sister. So much. You're the only one I would ever want to sit with--trapped--under a coffee table, singing of the sorrows brought upon us by Cabbage Jack. That jerk.

Sarah Nelson said...

Awe, you girls! So sweet! I loved reading your posts. And I swear, I only almost nearly gagged once toward the end. Lol. As one who is the younger sister- to a brother no less, my young memories are shared with a boy version and trying to fill the sweeter moments with my girlfriends, Candice and many others, including you two. :) ~ SN

Unknown said...

Wow, again you did it...you made me want more! I think you are a remarkable writer. so when will your first novel be written? Seriously, I look forward to your posts...they are not only funny but so heartfelt at the same time. I enjoy hearing about the love you have for your sister and of course the love that is growing between your own darling daughters. I can't wait for your next blog! 😢😍❤️