Though more conservative and reserved than I am, she is the personification of my beliefs that women can and should be strong and able to take care of themselves. Blessed with an oops at 18 that we all fell madly in love with (Alisha), she didn't miss a beat of college and graduated on time with her degree. She didn't use children as an excuse to stop her own education and improvement like so many women do. That led to a teaching career that will only end in retirement in a few years. She has molded the minds of future generations with skill and grace for 25 years in a career that has changed many times, from teaching to counseling and now, to being a principal. She's also managed to create a very successful marriage for 27 years despite having the odds stacked against them.
Always the mediator and communicator, my sis has talked me down from many a cliff in my lifetime. She's always listened to my near-insane rants about life and love, helped me through the difficulties of my divorce and shined her love on me when I was lost and trying desperately to find my way through life. She is always there for me with advice (whether I like it or not) and words of wisdom to make me think about things and to help me make the right choices. She was there when I got into vet school and when I graduated from vet school; she was there for my divorce, my second wedding and the Open House of my animal hospital. She just doesn't miss a beat in my life and I want her to know how much she is appreciated.
It was about 12 years ago when I surprised her with a trip to TX - I took a flight in without her knowing and snuck up to her house late one night - I wanted to surprise her so I could be there when she received her Master's Degree. It was such a huge event in our lives! She was the first in our entire family to obtain an advanced degree and it was so important that I be there. I would not have missed that for the world and I am SO proud of her to this day!
Smart, beautiful, educated and successful. Just the right combo to be My Hero.
I love my big sis. Even when she spits on me. And, a picture is worth a thousand words - that eyebrow has more meaning than you can imagine. :)
And, yes, I'll always remember The Tree. :)
Let us not forget the bet, shall we, sis? :)
I love you!
ReplyDeleteOK...I haven't spit on you in many, many years.....
ReplyDeleteAnd you will NEVER know how much you surprising me means to me to this day!! You pulled a good one!
The tree.....gotta love that picture! Do you remember how we even came up with the bet?
I don't know if my memory serves me right or not, but I remember sitting in the yard (wasn't there a swing?) and telling you I was happy and would never forget that tree and that I loved it... but that was my 7 year old brain. What do you remember?
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