In the house where we grew up, there was a small room, probably was once part of the back porch, off my parents bedroom. It held 2 cribs! Not long before Sandy was born I was moved up to the attic. I loved it! It wasn't spooky to me, only interesting. I had all my toys up there. I could hear the rain on the roof. And eventually, before the big remodel, I managed to go out on the roof of the front porch to wait for the love of my life to get home from his dates or whatever.
But I degress. Over these past years my sister has been my rock. My life was filled with ups and downs, mostly of my own making. Even when my own mother practically disowned me, my sister was always there.. loving me and supporting me. I cannot begin to explain how different my life would have been without that unconditional support.
My sister and I were raised by the same mother, but two different women.. how you say? When I was born my mother had no clue. She was never 'raised' but basically allowed to 'grow up' without a lot of direction. Mother did her best, but for me it was a hard way to go. Let's just say my mother thought that if she criticized me it would make me strive to do better.. she was right! However, no matter how much I succeeded it was never enough for her. I never felt ONCE that she was proud of me for anything EVER. Until the day she died. I was blessed to have my grandparents on both sides, and great aunts and uncles, that adored me, the first baby in the family for 3 years, and loved having me stay with them. I spent so much time with them I don't think I truly did 'bond' with my mother.
By the time Sandy came along I was 8 and my brother was 5. Our father had returned from the war about a year earlier and he was still getting his life back to normal. And mother had a better handle on parenting. The stress of having 2 children while she waited and worried with her husband in the war wore her down and also gave her a different perspective on life and parenting.
I had to struggle in my life to find myself and figure out that I WAS/AM a good person. In many ways I am glad my sister didn't have to go through the emotional struggles I did. Her life was much more in line with what our parents wanted.
My sister means the world to me. I cannot imagine life without my 'rock!' A couple weeks ago she was here for a visit and it made a huge difference to me.. I am so blessed