27 Years Is Too Long
Yesterday was my sister’s birthday. She is supposed to be celebrating with us. Instead, she has been gone for 27 years. How is that possible? It just seems like yesterday that she was here with us, laughing and joking. Making others smile with an infectious laugh and winning smile. She had such a quick wit about her that even on your worst days, you couldn’t help but smile being around her.Â
When she died, I was pregnant with my oldest daughter. She never got to meet her and her other nieces. Even though there are so many things about them that remind me of her, all of them got her infectious laugh, and some of them even got her trademark dimple.
Today we went to her grave to celebrate her and put flowers on her grave. For the first time, my mom went with us. I was being the good daughter and asked her if she wanted to come along for the ride. And she did. So here we are 3 generations in my car. My mom, myself, and my youngest daughter made the drive to the Wilmington / Wrightsville Beach area to the cemetery where she was buried. She loved the beach, and when it came time for her to decide where she wanted her final resting place, she picked the cemetery.Â
I know you are probably asking yourself wow, she picked the cemetery. Yep, you see, if you are new here, my sister Karen died of cancer. She was diagnosed with lung cancer, and less than 6 weeks after the diagnosis, she was gone. It was a shock to us all, and it took a toll on my health, but this post isn’t about that. This post is an appreciation post for how wonderful my big sister and forever best friend was.Â
Growing up, Karen was my partner in crime. She was 3 years older than me, but because of where her birthday fell, there was only a year in between us for school. So she was always there with me through everything, and I know she was there in spirit when all 3 of my girls were born. She was there when they all graduated from high school and when 2 graduated from college. I know she and my dad were smiling when Maddie ( her namesake) walked down the aisle to marry the love of her life.Â
Big sis, I miss you every day of these 27 years, and I hope I made you proud of the way I raised my girls because I wanted them to have the kind of relationship you and I had. And honestly, I think I have succeeded. Happy Birthday in Heaven, Karen- this year, you get to celebrate with not only Jesus and Dad, but our oldest sister Sherry joined you to share in the celebration.
