Day 2: Sisters

This is day two on “12 Days of Gratitude.”  Each day I will highlight one of the many areas in my life where I feel grateful.  The list is in no particular order. 

Day 2: June 7, 2012

Today I am very thankful for my sisters. 

 There was a time in my life, say 20 years ago when I never would have imagined the relationship with my sisters as it is now.  Caroline was married with little Jessica, pregnant with Leah, and Sharon was pregnant with Erica.  I lived in on Gladman Avenue in Newmarket and life was challenging.  My mom worked 18-hour days to keep the roof over our head, but at the same time was emotionally unstable.  Trevor (my brother) and I did everything we could to aggravate each other, and I had pressed play on party-mode.  I didn’t have close relationships with anyone in my family at the time.  And it didn’t bother me.  I had my friends. 

As the years went on, our family drifted even further apart.  Sharon moved to Meaford, Carol stayed out west.  Dave disappeared for a bit up north, and then my mom and Trevor moved to the Niagara area.  I was out of the house at 17.  This is when I developed the idea that independent was strong. Wrong.

I eventually went to university and finally, left Canada in 1999.  After all, Independent was strong.

I travelled the world for years and kept in touch with my family, but I missed weddings, birthdays, births, and deaths.  I missed out on milestones, but worse, I missed out on moments.   (This is why I have no problem accepting generous compensation packages while working over-seas.)

In 2004 my sister Sharon came to visit me in Colombia.  The timing would turn out to be impeccable considering we had lost our mother the week before.  I made a trip home, and Sharon came back with me for what would be the first jam-packed visit of several. 

When I moved to Brasil (with an “s”) it would be Carol that came to visit first, and then both of them for my wedding in 2009, and then again for Carnaval in 2011.  These visits meant a lot.  The amount of bonding that sisters can do in a week is insurmountable and the timing seems to always be bang-on. 

This is who my sisters are to me.  Tissue?

Confidence. My sisters are the people I would tell anything to; and I have.  I ask them for advice when I need it and it comes back filtered, through two sets of eyes.  Sharon’s who’s like, “I don’t like the sounds of this.  You tell the asshole to ef-off, Diane.”  And Carol’s who is more, “Mom used to say, ‘never make a decision when you are feeling emotional.’ Diane.” 

Sharon = no BS, black and white, say it like it is, blunt and honest, no beating around the bush

Carol = huge-hearted, emotional, analyser, compassionate, caregiver

Sharon and Carol are HILARIOUS.  If you know them, you know. 

Carol’s laugh has given her the name The California Cackler and Sharon’s interpretation of Russian/Martha Stewart while cooking or baking will have you in stitches.  When I was 5 or 6 years old, I watched my sister act out a commercial for Devry.  It lasted almost an hour.  As the youngest of the sisters, I often just sit back and observe.  I don’t mind taking the back seat when it’s a comedy show up front. 

On strength.  Carol has raised her two girls Jessica and Leah on her own.  She’s provided them with everything they need (along with a hefty dose of humour and “ignorance”) to succeed in life.  I love watching Carol with my nieces.  It just comes naturally.

Sharon is a force to be recon with.  Under her plate-mail exterior (Sharon doesn’t hug) she’s got a heart of gold.  She would give the shirt off her back to anyone who needed it; though she has confessed to enjoying the company of animals more than people.  You would believe me if you saw her tend her horses or dogs.  I think she should raise bees. 

When Sharon has visited me, she has always brought a tickle trunk of toys.  She fills one suitcase with goodies and then walks the streets like Santa Clause, giving toys and smiles to the kids on the street.  In situations like these, you can see people’s hearts in their eyes. 

When Carol last came to Brasil, she brought 75-or-so little outfits.  She bought little white t-shirts and bedazzled them with buttons and dinosaur patches, and then she made little matching shorts to go along.  She bagged them and labelled the sizes (in Portuguese) so that we could give them to the just-the-right kids.

Inspiration. Sharon and Carol are believers in dreams and are continuously supportive.  They constantly encourage me to aim high and to take risks.  They are my cheer-leaders, cheerer uppers, and when I’m lacking motivation or inspiration, all I need to touch base. 

Throughout the recent years, I have learned an invaluable lesson.  Though independence is safe, a place where no one can hurt and harm you, it’s not the most powerful position to take on the world.  Inter-dependence however, allows you to take risks, bounce ideas around like a game of one-on-one, and understand the meaning of 1+1+1 = 5

I am thankful for my sisters, for showing up BIG, for being themselves, and for being part of this tri-ad I so deeply cherish.