Sisters

Left to right, Kay (sister), Evan (Kay’s grandson), Rhonda (sister)

Tara (my niece), Brenda (sister), and Me

This last weekend, my two Oklahoma sisters, Evan, and I took a road trip to Mississippi to visit our other sister, you know, “the one with the pool”.  (If you’ve ever watched “Keeping Up Appearances” you’d understand the quotes.) We had a wonderful time, eating, swimming, and catching up, but the most enjoyable part of the visit for me was setting around the dining room table getting reacquainted.  We just never have enough time at Christmas.
Take a look at that picture.  Do you think we look alike?  Most people say we do, but while we may look similar in appearance, we have very different views.  We came from the same background—farm gals, so why don’t we think exactly alike?  I’ve been thinking about that since we returned.  Each sister has a unique perspective on life predicated on our family situations.  I think, also, that our views are often those same views of our husbands; not that we don’t have minds of our own, but that our window to the world often reflects the discussions had at our own breakfast tables. 
This last weekend, we had the opportunity to set around the breakfast table as adult sisters.  We had many deep discussions about the world around us, our children, our work, our health, retirement or how soon to retire, hopes and dreams, what we were having for lunch, when were we swimming, where we were going for dinner, etc.  We each came to the table with different baggage (hard knock lives) so everyone had something unique to say.  It was an enlightening time and a time of reflection.  What I saw most was a reflection of Mom and Dad, maybe voiced differently, but a reflection of the values mom and dad instilled in us.  That is the deepest comm0n link of all five of us siblings.  And the common love of good food.
While we are sisters and our opinions can be very different, the bond of love for our parents is the rope that will never break.  These girls, and the brother and our other sister, and other brothers-in-law are family.  The rope that binds us will never break.  No matter the opinions, it is a rope that will NOT break.
I love you all.
P.S.  Our other sister, the one who is our sister by choice and loved deeply, wasn’t able to make this trip.  We will definitely try to get a visit with all of us again soon…..including my brother.  I sometimes hate it that he is a boy and can’t follow us into the bathroom to continue our conversations while we put on makeup.  Yes……..Robert……..let’s plan something together as an entire family.  Something where we can set around a large table and get reacquainted and listen to each other’s stories.