Sister

My sister came to visit this weekend, leaving her family to spend time with mine.  Sister.  When I am with her a part of me awakens.  Within moments of being in her presence I notice I am breathing easier.  I feel prettier and funnier and smarter and more capable when she is near.  My hair is less frizzy and my belly is less squishy (although that is probably due to the Spanks she made me purchase).  She is an amazing audience to my silliness, honest critic to my writing and cheerleader when I slip into doubt.  I promise, I am not even exaggerating.


Yesterday, after a lovely day of volunteering, coffee, lunch and lots of laughter, we went home to relax before our dinner plans.  And then, innocently enough, she peeked into my walk-in closet.  I am not sure what other people keep in their closet or how they organize their clothes but Sister was stunned into silence at the appearance of mine.  I happen to have clothes in every size, color and material dating back to the last millennium.  The clothes that don't fit are intermixed with the clothes that barely fit, sprinkled with clothes that are lovely if only worn with different undergarments.  Who knew my muffin top and back fat could be controlled and managed with the right bra and panties!


Next thing I know there are piles of keep, donate and what were you thinking - all over my bedroom, spilling out into my living room.  As she found outfits that were wooden-hanger worthy, I was forced to try on each outfit with shoes and accessories.  She then took a picture on my iPhone for me to reference each morning before dressing.  The outfits she created from the heaps of clothes I crammed into my closet were amazing and inspiring and literally brought me to tears.


With Sister nearby, I see life is possible without my favorite gray sweatpants and frumpy once-black dress I bought in a boutique a million years ago.  With Sister nearby, men find me attractive and more importantly I find myself attractive.  I am not sure why she inspires goodness and pretty and funny in me - but I sure am grateful to God for plopping us into the same family.  But even if we hadn't been - we would have found our way to each other because she is a part of me and I am a part of her.  We are Sisters with a capital S.