My Sister



My sister, Laura, was the one I first knew as a friend, although I didn't realize how much she detested me because I had come into this world and robbed her of First and only place in the family.  I loved her dearly because she was older and smarter than me!  We shared a bed, toys, pets, closet, etc.   We spent many a hot summer day outdoors playing and not even realizing it was hot as we had no air conditioning and didn't realize summer could be any other way.

 

We sometimes napped on an old spring bed that was outdoors, we played in the sand along with the cats and kittens that were born every Spring!   We sat under shade trees, laid on our backs under the sun and clouds finding numerous shapes in the clouds!!   We had picnics, koolaid, and (sodas only on the 4th of July!)  Made homemade ice cream   by turning it with our dad the old fashioned way.

We also had responsibilities, we gathered eggs, helped drive the cows to the barn with our dad, hung clothes out to dry on a line in the back yard, helped to separate the milk from the cows(using a cream separator),cleaned our room, washed dishes in the sink etc.      We listened to radio programs and music as we had no television until we were older.      We often went to bed early by listening to stories on the radio, on of which I remember was called X minus1, sort of a UFO type story that continued each night much like a soap opera.

Our house had a porch on most sides and we often had to sweep it clean, but were not allowed too close to the old cistern where we got our water!   Our Dad was afraid his little girls might get hurt in some way, we were never allowed a bicycle (although we learned to ride on our neighbors bikes), or ride horses.

At Christmas, we got only 1 present and a stocking full of candy and gum and fruit, and 1 large peppermint stick.    We were better off than our neighbors down the gravel road as sometimes all they had were stockings filled with goodies!
 Two Christmases I remember in particular:
I had wanted a princess doll, and either they were too expensive or my mom could not find one, so I got Twins- boy and girl, with matching clothes and although disappointed I really loved playing with them.
And the other was when my sister and I wanted a doll and beneath the tree on Christmas morning sat 2 dolls, unwrapped, one with brown hair like my sisters and the other  a blonde like myself!    How exciting and I think we both still have those dolls today!

A memorable Birthday was when I was about 10, my parents took us and my G'ma Rhodes to shop at Poplar Bluff.   My grandma (according to my mom) had planned to buy me a new dress which she thought I really needed.     All was well, until I spied a stuffed Collie dog that was the largest I had every seen.  I wanted it with all my heart, more than any dress, and finally my mom relented but I could tell she was angry on the way home, but I loved it for a very long time!

Me & Laura in "fancy dresses"

Laura and I many days playing together as we grew up, such fun for me to have an older sister to look up to!   These were some of our fancy dresses taken in front of the Elephant Ear plants.  We  always had dogs and our favorite one was a collie whom we named Lassie.   She had puppies every year, and we sold them for 5.00 each! They were such cute little fur balls and thats when we sold them the best!     Lassie was very protective of us and when my sister dated she slipped around and bit one of them on the leg tearing his pants!

When we got to high school, my sister no longer liked me, didn't want me around her friends, and told me to stay away from her and them.   This made me want to be around them more!    I remember her classmates
and recognize many of them today!   
She also had a boyfriend and my mom was always waiting at the door when she came home from a date.
If she didn't come in right away my mom would stand and click the outside light on and off until she came to the door!    She didn't tolerate lateness very well!   I learned a lot about how to act with mother when I started dates and boyfriends!  

After high school, my sister left for college and was dating our unmarried minister at the time.   She soon got married to the "preacher man" we called him.  I don't know, but I think she did this to appease my mom who quite approved of a minister, and also to get away from home!

Thus her life began and she had 2 wonderful children, that I got to babysit as often as I could!    Steven and then Cynthia!   How I loved being Aunt Mary!!!

I was sixteen and old enough to drive to Essex, MO where my sister lived with her husband and 2 kids, it was a neat get away for a teenager, and fun to see and babysit the kids.     Little Steven was a blonde handsome boy and the apple of his moms eye!    She was totally absorbed in him.   Then she learned that she would have another child.  This time is was a girl and they named her Cynthia (we called her Cindy).    They lived in the methodist parsonage in Essex, next to the church and it was totally furnished!

My sister was a good mother and played with her children, I remember the badminton net in the back where she played with them and so did I went sitting with them.  She gave them lots of love and attention and always kept a clean house (just thought I would throw that one in)   There was always a place for everything and everything was in its place.

She has always loved to exercise even in High school when she made both me and my mom lie on the floor with her holding our ankles, or having us hook them under the couch,  and insisting that we do sit ups!     She always kept her back straight, and her stomach held in, with proper posture at all times.      I vowed that once she was gone I would not do an other exercise as long as I lived.       However, in retrospect, I can see where she is the healthier of the two of us.
At age 70 she continues to run and her description of running "you have pain but keep on going, and then you know what pain really is like and how to get through it"

She has endured many a painful thing in her lifetime, but I think she has endured because of her strength of self  discipline.     I still look up to her this day!!!   And she is my very best friend because she knows my background as I know hers!  To ever lose her would be absolutely devastating!