How Could I Forget?

I blame it on the foxes that appeared in our neighbors' yard on the 10th.

This is a very belated but very heartfelt, birthday post about my sister.

I was not thrilled when she was born. That was hardly an unexpected response since I was 17 days shy of celebrating my third birthday. What compounded my feelings was the fact that my mother went into the hospital to have her. (Diane is the only one of us to not be born at home.) First, my mother leaves me and then when she comes home, I can't see her.

I really don't know how long it took for me to be thrilled about having a sister.

For the first 9 years of our relationship we lived on a farm. I think that contributed to our closeness since we spent most of our time together without other playmates.

Recently, we were reminiscing about the complicated plots of our imaginative play, usually centering around horses. We had our western period inspired by one of my favorite Saturday morning shows, Fury.

After we moved to town, we changed to English riding, putting on elaborate horse shows, complete with the awarding of ribbons, in our basement rec room. I think I was reading books about debutantes and their horses.

When our brother was still at home, my sister and I shared a room and laughter. There were many nights when our mother would call out, "Girls, settle down. Your father has to go to work tomorrow."

One of my vivid memories of my teenage years is that of my sister hiding behind a doorway and scaring me. I suppose it was very satisfying for her since I was always startled even though I knew she was going to jump out.

During our adulthood, we have lived far apart and together. But either way, it makes no difference. As soon as we are together, we start laughing.

Just ask our husbands about it.


Now if we could only remember what was so funny.



*****

Two days