My Sister

Last night, my sister called me. I have tried for the past couple of months during different times to call her. I finally wondered if their number changed. I called my niece and asked her to have my sister call me. Which she did and guess what? Her number has changed.

Talking to my sister was really hard. She has developed the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. She still remembered my name, but couldn't remember what she wanted to say. She kept telling me that she has Alzheimer's and that she can't drive anymore. She said that she can't take the chance of getting lost while driving. I commended her for not only thinking of her safety, but the lives of others if she had an accident. It was hard to think of things to say (and I don't have that problem very often), because she kept going back to not driving. I got off the phone wondering why life can be so hard at times. We all have our trials and no matter how different they may be...they are hard. We are told that it's for our growth, but I'm still the same size that I have been for years (I know...that was lame). So...the growth has to be spiritual. If that is the case, then many of us are giants.

One of those giants is my sister. She is 12 years my senior. She babysat me when my parents went out. My mom would tell me that Sharlene would call her friends to say that she couldn't go with them...just to take care of me. I guess I cried a lot (that hasn't changed) and so she had to be the peacemaker between my brothers, because I interfered with their sleep during their sports seasons. When I got older, she was so easy to talk to. She would answer any question I had. Later, I was old enough then to repay the favor and tend her children. When her oldest was a teenager, she would call me to see if I could help her think of ways to resolve problems. (Those dreaded teen years.) We have been close for as long as I can remember. Yes...we were sisters and sometimes didn't agree, but I cherish my memories of our years together. We sang together. I remember once going through a rough time and we had to sing a song that just hit me and the tears started to flow. I can't sing when I cry, so I had to stop and she just kept singing with her arm firmly around my waist. There are so many memories and maybe I will share some in future Blogs. I just know that I am thankful for her.

Right now, my sister doesn't remember things. She's happy and very pleasant (which we are all grateful for). She laughs that she can't remember things...even when I know it bothers her. She can't play the piano anymore because she can't remember the notes, but she told me that she still remembers how to sing. Our talks are more child-like and a lot shorter, but at the end of each conversation...she tells me how much she loves me and how happy she is that I called. Last night, she ended the same way....part of me felt sadness and part of me smiled because this time...Sharlene called me.