French Connection

I'll be honest; it's always seemed easier to describe my sister by how we differ than how we are alike.  She's short, I'm tall.  She's got red hair, I've got brown.  She has big eyes, mine are small.  Her hair is long, mine's short. She's petite, I'm fa-...um...voluptuous.  I like sports, she does not.  She was born with a gourmet palate, I would cry and go on a hunger strike if there was not peanut butter and jelly on the menu.  She would tell our parents "stuff", I was tight-lipped.  She would cry if she got in trouble, I would be pissed that I got caught.  I usually sum up the description with, "It's amazing we grew up in the same household!" 

 

   

But, as we've grown older we have the common bond of motherhood and the shared experiences of our childhoods to reflect on, and I realize how alike we really are.  My favorite thing that we share is the same laugh.  When we really get going with a genuine guffaw, it is the same!  And now that she lives so far away, when I hear her in my own laugh it makes me really miss her.

She has been living in France for the past few years and with our busy lives and the 8 hour time difference we don't get to speak to each other as often as we'd like.  We think about each other all the time, and most of the time it seems it is the wrong time of day "over there" to pick up the phone and just say, "hey!"  She took a chance the other day, though, and we were both so happy to be able to chat.  Do you know what is amazing????

That over the miles we both bought fava beans that day! 

And, without any consult whatsoever, we are both presently reading books by the same author!

    
 
Amazing!!!

I love you, sis!  Even though we are physically far apart, we are still connected.  Don't forget that!  You are such a lovely, inspiring, generous, thoughtful, smart, and beautiful woman!  I love you and you teach me so much about sensitivity, joie de vivre, and to laugh at a three-legged carrot!  Thank you!