Sisters

There are many of my relatives that have died and gone to heaven so I would like to continue remembering.  I know that you are able to learn a little about me as well as your own memories that might be recalled from these postings.  When we were little we had another sister, her name was Jeanette.  Annette and Jeanette were only two years apart in age and inseperable.  We were together all of the time and we often wore matching outfits.  Although we weren't twins it was almost like we were for we sometimes filled in the blanks in each of our conversations.  Mom tells a story of the two of us watching our Dad work on his truck, I can't remember who started the conversation but it went like this, Girl one,"Daddy is so handsome."   Girl two, "Uh huh."  I can vaguely remember the glances and giggles of two little girls who created our own games and clues, playing in our sandbox or running across the street to visit Mr and Mrs Drum. 

When Jeanette was five and I was seven, there was something wrong with her eye and our Mom took her to the doctor.  A simple malady resulted in a diagnosis of leukemia.  We lived in a small town, with no stop lights, no fast food and no hospital.  For two years, our Mom and Dad took Jeanette to many doctor appointments, many hospital stays.  She endured chemotherapy, painful spinal taps and seperation from each other as I had to stay home with Grandma and Granpa to go to school.  The chemotherapy made her puffy and she lost her beautiful black hair.  She hated wearing the wigs and we really hated being apart form each other.  I look at pictues of each other, my sandy blonde hair and her dark hair and I can see the twinkle in her eye.  She really was a little angel. 

Jeanette was in the hospital and my Uncle Jim was going to take me to see her in the hospital.  I was sleeping on the couch at Grandma's house and when I woke up I heard the adults crying in the kitchen.  I knew then that she was gone and that I would never see her again.  All of the social activity that goes with the death of a relative and the funeral seemed so surreal to me.  I could not cry at the church, I could not cry at her grave, I was numb.  I remember Father Kennedy, Jeanette loved him so much.  I remember him playing his guitar and singing "How Great Thou Art."  I'm still so sad that I couldn't tell her good-bye.  I still miss her. 

I can not imagine the pain and devastation my Mom and Dad felt during her illness and after her death.   Many many years later, my Dad told us that their marriage almost did not survive the tragedy.  Today I can't imagine them being apart but Dad said that they stuck it out for us kids.  Sometimes I wonder why God takes young children or young adults from this world.  Unfullfilled dreams and kind souls who leave their parents, brothers, sisters and all of their families.  After they leave it always seems like something is missing.  It has been many years and I can still see the pain in my Mom's eyes.  When Jeanette died, Laurie was a baby and we are as close as Jeanette and I were.  I tell her all of my secrets.  We love and protect each other and our own.  I can only imagine how much fun the three of us would have had if Jeanette were still here.  Sisters are so special, I am so glad that Jeanette was a part of my life, even if it was for a short time.  I still miss her and I always will.