She wore the dress and I stayed home...But they are.
Polly doesn't have clothes? The sisters wash and press her best ones and lend her some of their own. Monopolizing a handsome bachelor? Well, only until they figure out that Polly has it bad for him and she doesn't even know it. Cora practically drags Marian into Father's poky study and the confab is most illuminating: At the door Cora paused. 'He'd make a lovely husband for Polly.'
So, allowing for other, more unhappy sororal (yes, that is a word) feelings, I want your most convivial sister stories--I'm talking about throwing-themselves-under-the-bus-and-doing-you-a-solid stories. I know we've got them.
As the youngest of six girls, I have dozens of stories of how my sisters come through for me. Always have, from when I was young and my grandfather (who lived next door) had a stroke and I went to stay with my oldest sister and her family to keep me from seeing my beloved Pappy in such a state, to my sister Kim sitting with me during my first, horrible MRI back when they were very new, very loud and very loooooooong to do. She went into the chamber with me, and read, at the top of her voice to be heard over the magnets, from magazines, describing pictures, making comments...anything she could think of to make me forget about how much it hurt my back to life flat for the nearly 2 hours it took to get the blasted test done.
ReplyDeleteMy sisters have sat with me countless hours in ERs with my son Jason who gave every impression of having a death wish as a child, either by accident or illness. They also, each of them, drove Jason and me the more than 1 hour drive to see his doctors once he began seeing specialists.
My sisters have been with me all along the way of my illness, for more than 10 years, going to specialists in three cities, sitting with me while I had biopsies and then making sure my family had meals when I'd come home exhausted and weary. And then showing up the next day to be sure the kitchen was cleaned up.
While I'm reciting this I have to add that several of my nieces, who are almost the same age as I am, are as close as my sisters and have proved themselves just as wonderful as their mothers and aunts.
We are blessed.
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Betty Barbara here--
ReplyDeleteOh Betty Mary--there is no way anyone can top that. Y'all are blessed, indeed.
My only sibling is my sister, 2 years younger than I am. Nothing heroic or outstanding to recount, but she is always there for me, ALWAYS!! And I'd like to think that I return the favor....
Funny sister story. We had a family reunion (my 5 sisters & 5 brothers) about 20 years ago at which there was a talent show. My youngest sister and I always loved the above routine from White Christmas. From childhood on we'd sing and ham this Sisters Act up at every chance. We intended to do this for the talent show, and then one of us had a brilliant idea. We'd get our hubbies to do it, ala Bing and Danny. After much cajoling, they agreed. They were outstanding. Mine is 6'3", her's was 5'6", so already it was hilarious. The props were some feathers in their hair and a boa and a feather duster. The really got into the fan smacking part using that duster and boa. They were awarded honorary First Place. The judges wanted to save the cash prize for the kids!
ReplyDeleteWe got it recorded on the old style vcr tape. And when the kids see it now, they can hardy contain themselves. I wish I knew how to transfer tape to the internet.
Our younger sons (then 6 & 7) did an act with their same age boy cousins. They sang 'Back in the Saddle Again', dressed in cowboy hats. They were adorabubble!
What makes this tape even more poignant & valuable is the fact that my sister's husband died 4 years later by his own hand.
What a great story, Betty Mary. My mother-in-law told me that the girls she grew up with used to perform that song at sleep-overs.
ReplyDeleteI can't count how many times Betty Suzanne lent me clothes growing up (hilarious because she was an early bloomer and I was a late). Betty Tia has helped me haul furniture all over this town. Betty Debbie kicks my rear and makes me do stuff.
It is the tragedy of my life that my daughter doesn't have any sisters.
Alas, I have one sister and -- for reasons that shouldn't reflect too badly on her -- I have no "she did me a solid" stories.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why Bettys Henry and Ross are the family of my heart. I've known Betty Henry since 1971 (forty years this September) and I treasure his friendship.
Which sounds like I totally don't grok the Question of the Week, but I do -- because really what you asked about was anecdotal evidence of a relationship that is rock solid throughout the years. And that's my relationship with Betty Henry. (Yes, he's my ex-husband. But long before he was my husband , long before he was the "what if" guy, long before he was the first real love of my life . . . he was a doofy 15-year-old British school boy that I knew I could trust.)
That counts, right?
That sounds pretty well like he's solid...so, yup. Totally counts.
ReplyDeleteI have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to sisters.
ReplyDeleteBetty Marcy is my only older sister - being 14 months apart we swapped shoes and clothes on a regular basis when we were teens. Her kids are the closest in age to mine - so we went through all that stuff together.
Betty Sherri invites my oldest son to dinner on a semi-regular basis (he lives relatively close to her). We generally talk and commiserate with each other about kids 4 or 5 days a week. Her oldest son is less than 2 years younger than my youngest.
Betty Suzanne has a magic camera. She can take pictures of just about anyone and make them look good. Her older daughter was born on my birthday.
Betty Keira - hmmm...oh, I guess there's this blog thing...and the fact that we talk on the phone at least once a day.
Betty Tia & Keira are my home-improvement buddies. Together we have painted nearly every room in each other's homes, installed flooring, granite bathroom counter, sink and faucets...etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
I almost always have at least one sister available (on speed dial) to "talk me down off the ledge" when I'm overwhelmed or stressed. You can't buy therapy like that. Have I mentioned how much fun we have when we get together? We are the definition of BFF's. Just as long as we keep Betty Marcy away from the Scrabble board...
First of all, thank you Betty Debbie, for straightening out at least part of your family tree--I get confused as to which of us are your Betty Sisters and which are both Betty and Bio Sisters, although knowing their commenting monikers would help at times--plus aren't there some daughters-in-laws thrown in?
ReplyDeleteMore importantly, first dibs on claiming Betty Magdalen as a sister. I'm the baby of four girls so I'm an expert on instant obedience in exchange for being spoiled. On being a sister, just two guidelines (bear me out, Fellow Bettys): no noticing fluctuating waistlines or messy houses. Welcome to the family, Betty Magdalen! (uh, you're now an aunt to four unruly nieces and nephews--your house for spring break? *laugh)
The tragedy of my life is that my daughter doesn't have any sisters, and neither does her daughter.
ReplyDeleteBoys just seem to run in our family. Out of the 23 kids that my bio sisters and I have between us, only 8 are girls. Four of us have one daughter apiece, Bettys Marcy and Suzanne have two. The only bio sibling that has more than 2 daughters is our younger brother...he has one son, then 4 daughters...how fair is that?
Betty JoDee -- Done! Let's see, if you send me my new nieces' & nephews' dates of birth, I'll be a wonderful "Dutch aunt" and send money at birthdays. Betty Ross already does this for his nieces and nephews -- plus, when we visit their homes in the UK, he slips each of the kids a twenty pound note on the way out the door. (He's the bestest uncle ever.)
ReplyDeleteBut might I meet my lovely nieces & nephews? (Especially as we live in the same state...) Oh, and given that you & I almost hit the mark for the same age difference as The Founding Bettys, would you like to start up a website together...? LOL!
So, Betty Magdalen--a little off-tangent here...I want to tell you that your Express Mail box is now being used as my 8-year-old's wolf habitat diorama.
ReplyDeleteOkay on the website, but you have to be the sister who gets up at 4:30 every day as well as handles all the e-mail. (Plus, mutilating a quotation from The Princess Bride I don't think our age difference is what you think it is--but I'll take it anyway.)
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I as my bio mom (sounds a bit like OctoMom--oops) finishes her visit, we'll get you and Betty Ross down from the high country for a visit.
Betty Keira -- That's what it's there for. I got my cookie tin back from Betty Janet (and no, that's not a hint -- I don't need or want them back, although anyone who does give it back is extra-sure to get more cookies next year) and the Express Mail box she mailed it in was lined with crumpled newspaper. Both cats (albeit one at a time) have curled up in it as the perfect nest!
ReplyDeleteBetty JoDee -- I had a friend in grad school who had a Bio Dad and a Neo Dad, so I totally get the idea. No rush -- pick a nice slow week when having your S-I-B (Sister-In-Betty) come with scones & clotted cream would be a treat and not a chore, and we'll be there.
I'll totally volunteer to be the one who gets up at 4:30 a.m. because I know that what The Founding Bettys do is pre-write their reviews and set them to post automatically at 7:30 a.m. EST. Oops. Guess I shouldn't have mentioned this -- I'd have gotten such points for being a hard worker and an early riser, when in point of fact I'm neither.
Sisters-in-Betty...Behold the dawn of a new and glorious term of endearment...hahahaha
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm only over in Williamsport. Come over Sisters-in-Betty-in-PA!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE teaparties!
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