In many ways she is not only my sister, but my confidant, my best friend and even a daughter and a mother on certain levels at times. We have been partners in just about everything: Crime, grief, joy, giggles galore, and especially survival.
We grew particularly close when we were young and had a less than ideal home environment. We clung to each other, bathed together, and at times slept in the same bed. And we made it through to the other side. We were each others best allies and friends when we were kids and after a few recent-ish tumultuous years we are once again side by side in spirit and our bond is stronger than ever before.
But this is not what this is about.
This is about celebrating my sister who I love with every cell of my being. The one who makes my heart swell with love, pride, admiration and, yes, worry at times.
She has always been a funny girl. Oodles of laughter bubbling up from her perpetually upwardly curved lips. And so strong in spirit. She has never changed in character either. What you see is what you get and she tells it straight and like it is. She hates the phone, but will talk if I call, which makes me feel oh so special. 🙂
Just look at her and see a little of what I see:
Joanie, I love you and see you for your amazing and uniquely beautiful self.
Look at my sister
Look at my sister
Look at the light in her eyes
Look again because there is a lot there to see
Those deep brown eyes that have seen so much of everything good and bad
But seem to only peer into and perceive the positive of what is today
Look at my sister
Watch her dance spontaneously
Or do a cartwheel down the hall at work
Full of surprises that delight
Effervescent
Look at my sister
Making people grateful everywhere she goes
To know her is to love her
Her friends and family are the lucky ones
To spend even a moment by her infectious side
Look at my sister
The life of the party
The girl people want to emulate
The girl that people flock too
She is magnetic
Look at my sister
So sharp in wit and mind
Always ready with a swift comeback
On the tip of her tongue
Spilling from her in amazing ways—without effort
Look at my sister
And a tenderhearted person
A soul that deserves to be celebrated
And appreciated
Never to be taken for granted
Look at my sister
She has not had an easy life
She is a survivor and a warrior
Who does not dwell in the past
She lives bravely and contentedly in the here and now
Look at my sister
But don’t try to pull one over on her
Because she will know immediately
She’s smart like that and nobody’s fool
I taught her a bit of this myself
Look at my sister
The other half of my soul
The person who knows everything about me
Who still chooses to love me for who I am, regardless of my faults
The one person besides my children and husband who I would lay down my life for
Look at my sister
But don’t you dare touch her
Unless she invites you to
Embracing you with one of her warm and passionate hugs
You are extremely lucky if you get one
Look at my sister
Look again
And again
See the beauty that her soul emits and see even a glimmer of what I do
And you might come to understand why my heart will always belong to her
