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Monday, March 1, 2010

Big Sister Weekend

The "big sisters": Judy and Mary. I'm a big sister to, actually the oldest of the sisters.
The "middle sisters" are Theresa and Maggie, who sometimes are also big sisters. "The little sisters" are Liz, Cathy and Julie. We were born in this order: 3 boys, 5 girls, 2 boys, 3 girls, so you can see why the middle sisters are also grouped with the big sisters.


This weekend Judy and Mary decided it was time for a Big Sisters Weekend, something we have never done, surprisingly. The weather didn't look promising; I called to warn them off because snow continued to fall and there was about six inches on my porch. Our truck was still stuck and my AWD wasn't working properly. The driveway (1/4 mile of hill, basically, complete with steep drop-offs to the side) was in bad shape because under the snow was soft mud.


Did all this deter them? Not at all! After all, it has been 17 years since Judy was here, and 35 years since Mary's last visit. It was way past time for them to come see their sister! On they came in Judy's four-wheel drive truck, and they arrived after only one scenic detour on Friday evening just before dark. (Usually we go to Virginia to visit my family we see Mary at the family reunion; we see Judy when traveling in the eastern part of West Virginia. Some of my siblings have yet to make the 6-hour drive to my home on the western side of WV.)


We talked. We cried a little. We laughed a lot. We remembered stories of growing up, stories of Jon, stories of getting older. Judy and Mary slept in the log room and Judy and I both assumed that Mary didn't know how to load the fire so Judy took on that duty the first night. Early the next morning Mary got up and put on a log and Judy said, "I didn't think you knew how to do that!" "Of course," said Mary, "who do you think kept the fire going in my cabin at family reunion?" Thus sealing her fate: she got to load the fire the next night!


Saturday found us "doing Ripley"--at the Downtowner for breakfast. I had not been since Jon's funeral, because of what happened as soon as I walked in the door--a giant hug from our usual waitress. I was ready for it, and can report I did not cry. (Maybe going back to work will be okay; I just need to be prepared in advance). Friends arrived; granddaughter Jordan and great-granddaughter Cadyn arrived. Mary treated us to the breakfast; what a sister. We ate and talked until noon, thankful that the snow had kept the restaurant relatively empty.


Judy and Mary wanted to go junking so that was next. We went to Reta's where Mary found a pretty pearl ring; I bought it for her for her birthday, which is this Wednesday. Judy found aluminum feed scoops and a owl figurine for Mary's collection, and then we were off to the next stop, Cagle's Market, a junker's delight because it is so junky! Trash and treasure combine in a amalgamation of aisles and piles. I've found many a great deal there, including an early American screen with a floral design handpainted on canvas (you can see it in the background of this picture).


As spent at least two hours at Cagle's. I found linen napkins, a tapestry runner and some neat little bottles for storing herbs; Mary found a new throw and a few other items, and Judy found the deal of the day: five pretty crystal wine glasses for $2.99. So pretty! Then she gave them to me as a gift. What a sister. A stop at Goodwill turned up great playclothes for Judy's and Mary's grandkids, then we made a quick stop at Derek's so they could see his house.


Back home, we ate and then sat by the fire and just talked. Jordan and Ethan and Cadyn, along with two of their friends, came over. We played with Cadyn, fixed up snacks and kept talking. Derek and Amy and Derek's daughter Haley, along with our friends Andrea and Odie came in after a dinner outing. Snow continued to fall but no one was concerned--these mountain people just drive in the stuff in their four-wheel-drives. Larry caught a lot of ribbing over his truck which was still stuck about 2 miles away; he claims it left it there as a conversation piece for the neighborhood. We sang a little, laughed and told stories until midnight.


Sunday morning was quieter, with just the big sisters and Larry here. We ate breakfast and then the sisters were on their way home across the mountains. Their GPS sent them on an extraordinary detour though--instead of the usual way off this hill, it sent them down a little-used road called Board Run, really just a mud track that fords the creek three times! I couldn't believe it when they called and told me their route home via GPS--a winding trail of bad roads and worse weather. Note to all: don't trust a GPS to guide you in WV. Just because one of our roads is on a map doesn't mean it's traversable. You can't explain that to a GPS, though--if it has a road number it must be a two-lane, right? Wrong!


It was a good weekend. I was sorry to see my sisters leave, but very glad they braved the weather and came. Sisters: how glad I am to have mine.

14 comments:

  1. That sounds wonderful for everyone. It's always a good time when we go to see you.
    Larry is such a good man, going to such lengths for the neighbors.
    I bet they really appreciated that conversation piece. :)

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  2. It was Maggie! And yes indeed I think all the guys around here had a good time ribbing Larry about his truck.

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  3. I know what you mean. I love my two sisters, as well.

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  4. Man. That makes me want sisters.

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  5. Hey Granny Sue!

    I'm so glad that they were able to make it to your house for a Sister's Weekend! Sounds like all had a good time. The thrift store finds sound like some really good ones too. I'm so glad that your sisters didn't get stuck in the mud on that road that the GPS sent them trecking on! I can't imagine! But I do know how these roads are in West Virginia! lol When I first moved to my old farm and my mom came for a visit with my Granny they got lost going home. No, they didn't have a GPS! lol Mom took the wrong turn and I don't know how she ended up where she did but she did manage to get somewhere where she asked someone how to get home and they told her how to get to Corridor G from there and she made it home but if I remember correctly it took her over 3 hours to get home from my house that evening. It should have taken about 35 to 40 minutes!

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  6. Hey... I put my hand like that when I'm trying to take a nice picture. See Mary's right hand?

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  7. Your sisters' visit was exactly what you needed. I understand that big sister, middle sister, little sister stuff. Our family's 9 children were: 1 son, 3 daughters, 2 more sons, 3 more daughters -- hence, the 3 BIG girls and the 3 LITTLE girls. Mom was always grateful that there weren't 3 more boys! I was one of the "Little Girls". Who am I kidding -- I'm still and will always be one of the "Little Girls". Sue, I think of you every day.

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  8. The older we get, the tighter we seem to be with each other. When we were younger everyone was so busy. Now we're like old friends, but better than that.

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  9. Oh what fun! It's usually years between visits for my sister and me...she's in Illinois and I'm in Florida. So glad you all had such a wonderful weekend :)

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  10. I understand, Robbyn. Although my sisters are only one or two states away, it's hard to find time to visit. The mountains in between limit winter trips, and of course that's when most of us have more free time.

    We usually traveled to see my parents and during those visits some sisters would come to see me--and the occasional brother. After their deaths, family reunions have been the replacement for our trips to our parents'. I also try to sneak in family visits when I'm storytelling, sometimes marketing for gigs in areas close to my folks. Now with kids grown it's both easier and more difficult--fewer at-home demands but more people to go see!

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  11. I am glad you got your weekend with your sisters, snow be damned. What a wonderful weekend!

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  12. It was a wonderful and memorable weekend!!That good ole GPS is in David's truck now--let's see where it takes him!!! ;-) Love you, Sue.
    Judy

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  13. Judy, maybe he will get lost and can't find his way back!!!! It WAS the BEST weekend!!!! We will be doing it again, as soon as we can all figure out our time....I loved the weekend, really I did!!!!

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  14. Judy and Mary!! Y'all stop making me laugh!!

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