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LEARN HOW TO MAKE OUR TYPE LARGER

	Just a thought
	Betty Lammers

Sisters are forever
Published January/February 2002

Sisters

The January when I was going to turn six-years old, my parents told me that they were going to give me a baby sister or brother for my birthday and I was thrilled. Kids were so naive then. I don't remember even noticing my slim mother's "weight problem." My baby sister arrived early for my birthday by ten days, but I was thrilled with my present and I still am seventy years later.

I felt so in charge of her as a baby that I was probably in the way, but SHE WAS MY PRESENT! Of course, we had separate friends and interests while growing up, but once we got to be adults, there was no separation. We got married one year apart in the month of May and decades later became widows one year apart in the month of April. Through all the years in-between, we have been there for each other through young children's illnesses, teenage traumas, children's marriages, grand-motherhood and all the joys and sadness that life brings. Many years ago she gave me a mug that read, "Sisters are forever and I'm so glad you're mine." It is all chipped now, but I can't throw it out. How wonderful it is to have a sister. She is my psychologist and I am hers. We had no need of "professional help" because we could unload on one another, knowing that we would never be judged. Who else but a sister can do that?

Today there is still the two of us. We live a little more than an hour apart, so I can go down to see her and stay over. It is still like a pajama party. We laugh together, we cry together and just talk everything over. It is so nice to share and not be judged. It is amazing because we compare the silliest things. We like the same comedy, hate the same movies, compare a lot of life's foibles and we are almost like carbon copies of each other. In fact, we just discovered that we mail-ordered an identical sweat suit, color and all - spooky, isn't it?

We both cherish one another and I thank Mother and Dad for that wonderful present I got seventy years ago. It was the best one ever!

E-mail Betty Lammers at betty@homefrontmagazine.com.

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