The illustration hangs quietly in the guest room, with the
sunlightt lightly brushing on the glass protecting it. I see
it almost every day. Every time I have to go into the guest closet to reach for
the toolbox for one of my projects, or to vacuum and mop the tile floors, often
pausing for a few seconds to look at her beauty and remember.
I remember when we used to run around together playing make
believe games and throw soft sock balls to one another in unoccupied lots
beside our newly-built house comprised of gray brick and white painted panels
in the summers. We traveled the country together, and even overseas (with our
parents’ guidance, of course). You didn’t think we did it alone, did you? Much
more prone to easily smile than I, she would dive into new experiences and rush
to meet new people while I took a more skeptical approach. She is one of the
few people who made me so disgruntled as a child at one moment, but the next
instance, we were rolling on the floor out of laughter together. I think of the time she
told me she remembers parts of movies according to the music. My visual artist
mind can’t wrap the idea tightly enough to understand how, but her musical
mind takes the concept in stride.
Now, she carries herself with confidence and beauty. It
almost seems as if she glides. That's quite an oddity to describe her motion, but somehow I
can’t think of any other way. We are quite opposite, but so much the same. She’s
all about efficiency. I delve too much into thought and thoroughness. Yet somehow, doesn’t that make for a good
combination? Somebody there to strike on an idea, and another to smooth out the
bumps along the way? That’s just how we are, she and I.
Today is her birthday. She is a January baby, unlike my warm September origin. Strangely enough, the weather today is
uncharacteristically warm, and the leaves are only beginning to turn shades of
red and float off of their limbs. As I stare out the window into the sunshine and rustling trees, I rewind
back to the memories shared with my sister of play, travel, happiness,
hilarity, wonder, and beauty. I’ll see her soon enough. Yesterday when she
called, she said she would be here in the middle of February. I got excited, as
I always do when she tells me that. Until then, I’ll remember her and be grateful.
***
Thought I'd add a little photo of us on one of our adventures. This is us (she's on the left, and I'm on the right, with our mama). Kinda looks like she's snapping while dancing, doesn't it? I'm skeptical, as I usually was.
Have a great day, guys!
9 comments:
Yay!! I love your illustration and story combinations! This one is beautiful and what a tribute to your sister! Happy birthday to her! x
Anna: Aw, thanks for the compliment and the birthday wishes, pretty lady! I'm just so excited for you and your new addition!!
Happy birthday to your sister! So funny that you say you were skeptical as you always were - I found all these photos of me and my sister when we were young and I was the skeptical one! (I'm older than her by 2 years). Love having a sister - it's the best present :)
Your illustrations are always so gorgeous! Happy birthday to your sis! :)
LOVE your illustrations, they are beautiful!
Jess: She'll appreciate that, lady. :) And she did, thank you! That's hilarious that we were both like that. Completely agree with you...I would have been one sad little child without my partner in crime.
Milynn: Aw, thank you so much, dear. She had a great one! Thanks so much for the sweet wishes. :)
Kristen: You're the sweetest! Thank you very much. :)
This is such an awesome illustration and the story makes it even lovelier :)
Thank you, Trixia. :)
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