Happy Birthday, Regenia!!!
58 years ago today, an event occurred that always has and always will impact my life. My mother gave birth to my big sister, Regenia. Just shy of her 11th birthday, she became just that -- My Big Sister.
As the youngest of two, I don't have any childhood memories that don't involve her presence or influence. She was always the yardstick I tried to measure up to. Most of the time I failed miserably. She had smarts I couldn't touch academically. She knew way more people than I did, with a memory like an elephant. Artistic talents that I couldn't begin to copy. Amazing technical architectural skills.
In other words, as older siblings go, she set the bar pretty darn high. There's an old saying, "Reach for the moon, even if you miss you'll land among the stars." or something to that affect. I guess even though I can't begin to attain any of her levels in any realm, I'm a much better person because I've tried so hard to emulate her.
My parents were both close to the end of their respective line of siblings and I was sort of a mid-life baby...so all of my cousins were my sister's age. I used to try whatever tactics I could employ to sit in on their games and conversations -- learning all that I could about their world and employing the "fake-it-til-you-make-it" method of fitting in. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. Most of the time she was surprisingly patient with it, sometimes she wasn't. Still, it helped me not be intimidated by people who are smarter, wiser, wealthier and more talented than I...I just pretend I'm trying to hone in on a game of Monopoly with Regenia, Butch and Sue!
I guess it's one of those weird aspects of family dynamics that I've spent my whole life trying to get notice and approval from my sister. She's probably blissfully unaware of what an awesome impact and inspiration she's been in my life and how often she is in my tho'ts and prayers. But tho' time and distance has kept us apart all of my adult life, she will, forevermore, be My Big Sister.
I wish her the Happiest of Birthdays and a Wonderful Year to come!
As the youngest of two, I don't have any childhood memories that don't involve her presence or influence. She was always the yardstick I tried to measure up to. Most of the time I failed miserably. She had smarts I couldn't touch academically. She knew way more people than I did, with a memory like an elephant. Artistic talents that I couldn't begin to copy. Amazing technical architectural skills.
In other words, as older siblings go, she set the bar pretty darn high. There's an old saying, "Reach for the moon, even if you miss you'll land among the stars." or something to that affect. I guess even though I can't begin to attain any of her levels in any realm, I'm a much better person because I've tried so hard to emulate her.
My parents were both close to the end of their respective line of siblings and I was sort of a mid-life baby...so all of my cousins were my sister's age. I used to try whatever tactics I could employ to sit in on their games and conversations -- learning all that I could about their world and employing the "fake-it-til-you-make-it" method of fitting in. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. Most of the time she was surprisingly patient with it, sometimes she wasn't. Still, it helped me not be intimidated by people who are smarter, wiser, wealthier and more talented than I...I just pretend I'm trying to hone in on a game of Monopoly with Regenia, Butch and Sue!
I guess it's one of those weird aspects of family dynamics that I've spent my whole life trying to get notice and approval from my sister. She's probably blissfully unaware of what an awesome impact and inspiration she's been in my life and how often she is in my tho'ts and prayers. But tho' time and distance has kept us apart all of my adult life, she will, forevermore, be My Big Sister.
I wish her the Happiest of Birthdays and a Wonderful Year to come!
Comments
She needs to climb down off her soapbox and try to be more Christ-like instead of being a back biting creature, which she so enjoys.