My Sisters, My Friends

Once upon a time there was a little girl. She had an older brother. Then her mommy had another baby, it was another brother. And then came another. And another. She wanted a sister so badly. Her mommy’s tummy got very big. It was yet another brother. So she dressed her brothers up in dresses and she prayed for a sister. She did their hair. They prayed for a sister. One day her mommy’s tummy got very big again. The little girl just knew that this was going to be her little sister. She knew exactly what she wanted this little sister to be named. She told her Daddy the name. He wasn’t so sure. He didn’t know if it was even going to be a girl. But the little girl did. She just knew that her prayers were going to be answered. Her brothers hoped it would be true too. One night her mommy went to the hospital. The little girl waited and hoped and prayed. Finally her daddy came home and walked into the house and announced,

“It’s a Jenny!”

The little girl had never known such happiness. She was ecstatic! Baby Jenny had beautiful brown hair that the little girl would not let her mommy cut (because her mommy had always kept her hair short and everyone thought she was a little boy, can you imagine?). She made a crocheted bikini for Baby Jenny and many other cute little dresses. She loved and loved her Baby Jenny. She still occasionally dressed her brothers up like girls. Her mommy had another baby, a boy (of all the nerve). But then she had another girl!

Oh the joy the little girl felt when she had yet another baby to dress up! Oh the joy her brothers felt when they knew they wouldn’t have to be dressed up anymore! This baby was soft and fair. She was sweet and smiled all the time. She was so fun to hug and squeeze. Her mommy named the baby Elizabeth, but Betsy quickly became the name of choice (much to the baby’s chagrin). When Baby Betsy grew older she talked and talked and talked. The little girl (now not so little) sometimes told Baby Betsy that she didn’t think Betsy could keep quiet for five minutes. Baby Betsy was sure she could. The big sister said she really didn’t think that could be, but she would time her if she really thought she could. Baby Betsy would close her mouth and wiggle and wiggle, but would not say a word. The big sister had five minutes of peace! The big sister loved her little sisters more than anyone could imagine.

Time went on and the sisters fought and argued and laughed and loved. Through all their turbulent childhood they knew that they could always count on each other. They rejoiced in each others successes and cried for each others pain. They grew up and got married and even though they didn’t always live close to each other, they were still best friends. One day their mother died. They were very sad. They went together and prepared their mother for her burial. It was a very difficult thing to do, but they did it together. They had never felt so close. They talked about their mother and marveled at the relationship they each had that was so different. They talked about the things they learned from their mother and how they didn’t want to be like her in some ways, but in other ways they did. They especially wanted to love their children with as much fervor as their mother did. They mourned their mother’s death, but they rejoiced that they had each other.

What is a sister?

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she’s the reason you wish you were an only child. ~Barbara Alpert

One day Jenny wrote something that made both her sisters cry...

Thank you Jenny...I don’t deserve all the praise. Your tribute to Betsy was beautifully done as well. I couldn’t have said it better myself. We are two of the luckiest women in the world to have you as our sister!

Bless you, my darling, and remember you are always in the heart – oh tucked so close there is no chance of escape – of your sister. ~Katherine Mansfield