So, you’re another year older littler sister. I can never get my head around how old you’re turning because of course that makes me 2 and a half years older! The bond many sisters share is amazing and although we have had our ups and downs, I truly feel blessed to have been lucky enough to share our last 30 something years together.
We’ve squabbled and would fight as young siblings do but I always knew I had someone to play with on the weekend and during school holidays. When going away on a family adventure I always knew come bedtime I wouldn’t be alone. We had each other, lying on our camp beds, snuggled up in our Sesame Street sleeping bags. We would listen to the hushed voices of Mum and Dad and the soft hissing sound of the gas lantern as it cast its warm glow through the canvas walls of our tent. Whispering to each other until one of us drifted into sleep first. Those camping trips away were always so much fun. We stayed on beaches, on Tambourine Mountain fossicking for dinosaur eggs and the Flinders Ranges to name just a few of our destinations. What incredible memories to be able to share with you.
Christmas time was always the same, a well worn tradition of me getting up to check out what was under the tree and then coming in to wake you. Never a great morning person, you would begrudgingly get out of bed, dragging your feet until you saw the presents. “Oh, yeah! It’s Christmas!” Fun playing with our new gifts, we always had someone to go ride our new bike with, have someone play Guess Who with or to go have a game of Grip ball. Remember the towns of Lego we would build? Mum would let us leave it up in the lounge room if we kept it tidy in the school holidays. Gosh those days were great. It feels like we were one of the last generations of kids that got to enjoy going for long bike rides by ourselves, went off to the local park for hours and hours without a worry or just played in the street with all the other neighbours. We would play cricket in the street and have bike races until Dad would whistle for us to come in for dinner. Even if all the other kids were busy, we still had each other.
Primary school and High school discos on a Friday night were always good fun. We’d get dressed up and take turns getting our hair crimped by Mum. Saturday night having “picky tea” on a tablecloth on the family room floor while watching Hey, Hey it’s Saturday and It’s a Knockout are fond memories. Simple but good fun was pretty much what growing up in the eighties was all about and we did it together.
80’s and early 90’s – Crimped hair!
As we got older there were always going to be fights and disagreements. There were also times when we would confide in each other about the drama and the angst all teens go through. As teenagers we mostly got along, with the occasional speed bump and it was always helpful having a sister’s wardrobe that you could borrow from! Fast-forward to our twenties and it got rough. Boyfriends, friends, jobs, life choices, blah, blah, blah! But as is the foundation in our family, we always knew when the chips were down; we would be in each other’s corner. Just last year you went above and beyond for me when I was stuck with no place to go. Fleeing a terrible living situation and coming to stay with you for those 6 weeks was at times tiring, hard, fun and hilarious for all of us. But like everything, we got through it and it has proved only to add another layer of love and mutual respect we have for each other.
BDO 2005?
When I look back at our history I can’t help but think just how lucky I am to have you. Yes, you are my sister and I love you but I also really like and respect you. You are honest and caring. You are strong willed and you stick to your guns when you know it’s the right thing to do. You are funny and have an awesome laugh that is refreshingly real. You have a strong sense of self and you hold yourself and others up to some pretty high standards; which can be intimidating but is once again because you stay true to who you are and what you’re about. You are forgiving (eventually!) and pull me up when I’m being too fanciful or dramatic as I have been prone to be in the past. You are an awesome support to both family and friends and your heart is full of love for everyone fortunate enough to be in your life. You are very special and you are loved by so many.
This weekend will be a fun one as we head out to the city with family and friends to celebrate this, your 34th birthday. I am so happy to be sharing your night with you, that you want to celebrate with us all means a lot. We have so many memories little sister, so many shared memories that only those with siblings can understand. Here’s to the new memories we will create and share in the future, there’s still so many to come.
Happy Birthday for tomorrow little sister. I love you Clare xxx
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