Monday Memories...Letters to Mom
Dear Mom,, This is your weekly memory letter from me, your adorable middle daughter Kathy. As the middle child, I hold a special place in our family. I was the baby sister for 14 years till sister Beverly was born. When Barbara married and moved to Germany with Joe, I became the oldest at home. So I have filled all three roles. I like to think that I' the sweet frosting in the middle of the sandwich cookie!
I was the "little sister" for most of my formative years. My sister, Bobbie, is three years older and was your favorite child (at least I always thought so). Mom, whenever you were frustrated by our behavior you would lecture each of us by comparing us to one another. My lectures were "Why can't you be pretty and smart like your sister Barbara?" Barbara's lecture was, "Why can't you be sweet and loving like your sister Kathy?" We grew up thinking "Mom always loved you best" of each other.
As the little sister, I got to bask in her glory. I was always Barbara's little sister. It was especially hard to have teachers that had taught my brilliant sister and then taught me. Like most little sisters I adored her and of course, to be included in her world was a real treat even if it meant carrying the majority of the burden.
Both of our parents had lived through the depression so they were very frugal with money. We had one bike that we had to share. It was a big bike and we were still pretty small. Dad ended up putting blocks of wood on the pedals as our legs were too short to sit on the seat and pedal. Did I say share? There were two scenarios. She would ride and I would run along behind the bike till she lost me, or her favorite scenario...I pumped and she rode on the back.
We would make snowmen together. She rolled the snow till it was too heavy for her to lift and then she would have me move it to where she wanted it displayed. My sister Bobbie had a slight build and my Dad told her that a stiff breeze would blow her away and suggested she carry a rock in her pocket to weigh her down. Me, I was the Bulldozer, made for endurance.
It was always my turn to do the dishes. I was always the last one to do whatever Mom said not to do. It was always my shoes that tracked up the floor and I was "it" in every game. She would come up with the ideas and I was always willing to go along. If she said she was brave, so was I even if it meant touching a bee to prove it. To say she got me in trouble with our folks would have been an understatement but I never seemed to learn.
She was the first one to hear my secrets, the one I would conspire with, the one I would wake up at 4 a.m. on Christmas morning to see if it was too early to wake the folks yet. She was also the first one to experience all the firsts. She was the overachiever, I felt fortunate to just be included in the game.
Now that we are both grandmothers, I can't imagine what my life would have been without her. She is one of my best friends, my greatest supporter, and my personal cheerleader. We talk alike on the phone, we both have the same crazy sense of humor, and when we are together people naturally assume we are sisters.I think it has something to do with our silver hair and like mannerisms. I know she was disappointed when she found out I was a girl and wanted to know why. Dad told her that the hospital was all out of boys so she suggested maybe we should take mom to another hospital.
I hope you enjoyed my memories of growing up" the little sister" . I hope it brought you sweet memories of our childhood. We love you so very much and pray for you every single day. We will be so glad to be able to give you lots of hugs. Miss you Momma.
That sweet middle girl, Kathy
