My sisters and I love celebrating birthdays together. Sometimes we do something special – go out to eat or go tour somewhere. This picture might not have been on a birthday, but we did tour a house that was built by a Shaker for his lady love. I’m assuming that was actually when he was a former Shaker! A beautiful house. He must have been a well to do former Shaker.
Lately we’ve just been getting together at one of our houses to celebrate. Sisters (or brothers) are the ones who have known you longest other than your parents. Sisters can be your best friends. They know you and all those crazy things you did when you were a kid. And somehow they love you anyway.
So I enjoyed these stories readers shared with me that featured loving sisters. I sent out a newsletter last week inviting readers to share birthday stories with me. I haven’t gotten through all the messages yet, but I am having fun reading the storeis shared with me.
Here’s a story Teresa shared about how her sister made one of her birthdays special.
I do have a story to tell about my sister. I always loved my birthday. I loved being surprised by presents. One year as I was older, a teenager, I received money as a majority of my gifts. My sister, who was 6 years older, knew how disappointed I was not to have gotten gifts. She took the money and spent the day buying me gifts she knew I would enjoy. It was one of the sweetest things she could have done. It wasn’t a lot of money but enough for a mou mou, a record album, a John Lennon silk to hang on my wall, incense…can you guess my age by these gifts? My sister was my best friend. She did so much for me. When she was 19 and I 13 we went alone to New York City because my parents couldn’t vacation with us that year. When she started college I went with her and her friends to concerts, drive in movies. When I was getting married and our wedding venue had to cancel our reservation due to bankruptcy, she took the day to drive me around to secure another venue. So much more…I lost her to scleraderma when she was just 45. I miss her every day…
And Debi tells a story about how her sister surprised her one year.
I have a birthday story for you. I make large one of a kind cakes. My little sister asked me to make a Hawaiian cake for her friend who was going to throw a party for her daughter. It was for 100 people. All communication had to go through my sister and every time I called her to ask about what her friend would like best, she always said to do whatever I liked.
On delivery day, my sister said her friend would love it if I came in one of my moo moos that I purchased in Hawaii. I had my hair up in a ponytail, to keep it from getting into the cake and showed up late — thank you, husband for taking the long way — but my sister wasn’t ready and wanted to show me something before we left to deliver the cake. She took me into the garage, but couldn’t find the item, so we went back out and around through the gate to her backyard. As we came around the corner, there was my cake and about 100 of my friends and family. I had made and delivered my own surprise party birthday cake! They got me good!
Love that, Debi.
I sent out a newsletter last week on my birthday. If you didn’t get it and think you are on my email list, check your spam folder. If you still don’t have it, let me know and I’ll send a copy your way. There’s a giveaway like always in my newsletters.
What do you love about birthdays?
Comments 8
Love your books set in central KY. I grew up in Lebanon, which I believe is near where you live. Such a beautiful part of the country, especially in the fall. I remember weenie roasts, hayrides, pumpkins, football games and the smell of burning leaves as people cleaned up their yards. Of course, you can’t do that anymore. I especially enjoyed spending some week ends with a friend who lived on a farm near Bloomfield. So many fond memories.
Author
Kentucky is a beautiful state with so many differences in its landscape from east to west, Mary. But yes, Lebanon is not far from where I live in Anderson County. My book, River to Redemption is set in Springfield which is even closer to Lebanon. Thanks for sharing your memories of the fall. All of those brought up some memories for me too.
Thanks also for reading my stories. Love having Kentuckians read my Kentucky stories and wherever you live, once a Kentuckian maybe always a Kentuckian.
Author
Thanks, Hope. I did have a nice birthday and managed to spread out the fun. In fact I might keep celebrating this weekend when my daughter hopes to come for a visit and we go to a storytelling event. I love listening to storytellers.
I’m glad your family makes sure you have a special day on your birthday, but you are so right that the best gifts are always those special times with our family.
I like knowing I am still having birthdays!
Author
That’s a pretty important thing about birthdays, Connie. Those who have the most live the longest. 🙂
I love shopping for that special gift to make someone’s special day extra special.
Author
You are that person who gives gifts that the recipients love, Pamela. Your generous heart and thoughtful notice makes you a blessing to your family and friends.
I love the stories that you shared from Teresa and Debi. Both made me smile and it sounds like Teresa hit the jackpot with her sister and am sorry she is no longer with us, but it sounds like Teresa has many happy memories to hold in her heart. My husband and kids always work hard to make my birthdays special with a cake and special gifts, but the best gift we can ever get is time with those we love and memories that make us smile for the rest of our lives. Hope your birthday is one (or was one) full of smiles and special memories with your sisters and all those you love, Ann!