January 1979
When you grow up in the same house and you're with your siblings everyday, it's easy to take for granted that you know them. You have experiences and family in common, and though you're not the same, you're close. Inevitably when that whole process of "growing up" occurs, and time and space intervene, the closeness stays, but the "everyday" element doesn't. Which is why when Courtney told me she was coming to visit, I couldn't wait.
One of my favorite things about having siblings is getting to know them in different stages of life. It always amazes me that inside of each family member are streaks of individuality that run the scope of talent, thought, and creativity. For me, being far away from family can be hard, so a visit from my sister felt like Christmas come two months early.
On arrival day, I was smiling before I even saw her and even (or especially?) in her jet-lagged state, she was hilarious. She has a gift for taking the weight out of situations that don't merit it, and giving weight to situations that do. She made me feel home and happy and almost fourteen again. We laughed and I cried and we talked about life. She helped me feel like me and find a few pieces that I had misplaced. We watched our kiddos and saw ourselves in them. And when I got a chance to peek into her everyday, I stood in awe. Not just for her perfect Reds, or because of the food she cooks, or the sacrifices that she's made- but because of who she is.
(Still hanging on to her.)
It was so fun, to see my sister.
