SISTERS

My sister and I
(circa 1966)

by Zona

My sister and I try to get together for lunch at least once a month. Sometimes she's too busy. Sometimes I am. Last weekend, we were finally able to go. We spent the whole time reminiscing about when we were kids. We shared a room until our brother left for college, and we couldn't stop laughing as we remembered the decor: double beds with matching purple crushed velvet bedspreads, striped purple sheets and purple curtains, purple lamps and plastic purple bedside tables. Are you feeling the late 60's love? There were more stuffed animals in that room than you could count, and we had fun trying to recall their names. Mom made most of our clothes back then, which was cool with me, until she made us the same tank tops. No way!! I put my 9 year old foot down. No twinsies!

My sis and I always got along pretty well, even though I was almost four years older. When I wasn't jumping on her bed and launching her out of the window, or coaxing her up onto the roof without a thought as to how to get her down, we spent a lot of time being silly and making each other laugh. There were times when she couldn't fall asleep, and I would make up stories to help her drift off. I was so surprised last week when she brought up the story of "Mannashukioka". It was a kingdom where all the houses were made out of huge mushrooms. The streets were paved with gold and the flowers were actually gumdrops and junior mints. I know how it sounds Bear, but I was only 9!! Mannashukioka also had it's own song, and 40 years after I had made it up, she sang it for me. I couldn't believe she remembered everything so clearly. She couldn't have been more than five years old! It was fun remembering those times, laughing 'til we cried. And guess what? She's still mad that I wouldn't let her wear that tank top!!