by Carrie Shank

Created on: January 17, 2009

Sisterly Love

When you hear the word "family," most people think of their blood relatives. That is true for me too, but it also includes many other people in my life. It includes my work family, my close friends, a couple of my neighbors, and most of all it includes my sister. You're probably saying to yourself, "No kidding! A sister IS part of your family. Well for me, the woman I call my sister isn't biologically my sister or even related to me by adoption. She is just a chic I've known since the first day I came home. And even after my 40 years and her 50 years of existence we are still the best of friends and still consider each other sisters. I consider her three sons my nephews, and her youngest son grew up thinking I was his aunt. I think he was a little devastated when he learned that I wasn't his "real" aunt.

Even though we have such an age difference she took me under her wing and let me hang out with her around the neighborhood. We even worked together in the same department at two different stores. There she taught me how to work and what work ethic really meant. As a 20 year retail manager I know that somewhere along the line this next generation has lost the meaning of an honest days work.

I have such fond memories of hanging out with my big sis. I moved out of the neighborhood when I was about six or seven so most of my memories with her relate to our adult life. What I remember most about my younger years are that every 4th. of July all of the neighborhood kids would gather together on Cheri's lawn and sit on a blanket with popcorn and watch the fireworks. The funny thing is that when I moved away and the first 4th of July rolls around there's no one sitting on their lawn watching fireworks where I lived now. I was shocked because I thought that's what everybody did on that holiday.

I always knew that she had my back. She always told me that blood is thicker than water. The funny thing is that saying had such a strong meaning even though we weren't really blood related. I knew she was there for me, and I hope she knows the same about me.

When I think of Cheri, a smile always comes to my face. Every time we are together we are laughing and having a good time. Even though we may have lost touch a little bit through the years our relationship is still strong, and I know it always will be.

What's so important when you think about family is not to take them for granted. Don't think that they will always be here because we never truly know what tomorrow will bring. Take time to make that phone call or to send the e-mail that isn't just another forward. Take time to get together for lunch or to meet for a beer.

Let your loved ones know how much they mean to you. Don't wait for tomorrow to come to tell them- tomorrow may never be.

Seize the present because the future holds no guarantees.

My sister and I have the type of relationship where we like to play practical jokes on each other and kid around, and with her 50th. birthday around the corner I saw my opportunity to get her good. All the thoughts came to my mind about the over the hill gifts, the box of depends, the yard filled with those obnoxious yard decorations, all that good stuff. I thought here's my chance. Make it good! Then something came over me and I decided to write her this story instead. She'll probably be shocked. Sure hope her heart can take it at her age. I'll have the paramedics on call just in case.

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