Sisters by Chance, Friends by Choice

There are some things about my childhood that I'd like to forget

And probably more that my sister would like to forget!

Through the eyes of a child, my little sister was mama's baby and daddy's little girl.

I was jealous and I poked fun and prodded and ridiculed her to no end.

I had the "middle-child" syndrome bad-even on into my married, young-adult years.

My sister attended an out of state college when she graduated high school and never returned home to live until 20+ years later.

I remember saying to my parents, "Oh, Beverli's coming home. Let's roll out the red carpet."

I am ashamed now of my behavior.  I was ridiculously obnoxious!

The benefits of my sister's return home are many.

She returned after my kids were grown and gone and she had two little ones under foot.

Their presence filled the emptiness that my children left behind.

She became my best friend and the sister that I never let her be growing up.

She came back home when our parents' health began to fail.

Our friendship grew even deeper as we shared the load of caring for our aging parents.

People say we look alike. (This was taken 4 years ago)

(me, left)

It is by chance that we are sisters.

Now, we are friends by choice.

My saying is, "Friends come and go, but family is forever."