Some great thoughts!!

[Penni60 45]

Subject: FW: Sisters

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

"Don't forget your Sisters," she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass." They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them. And remember that "Sisters" also means your girlfriends, your daughters, and other women relatives too. You'll need other women. Women always do."

'What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. 'Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup. Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!

But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes.

Men don't call when they say they will.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Careers end.

BUT.........

Girlfriends are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.

A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, your girlfriends will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you. Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, daughter-in-laws, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mother, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, bless our life! The world wouldn't be the same without them, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead.

Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.

[momof4 0]

Penni-

I got all choked up reading your post. I have four sisters--two older, two younger. Both our parents died at a young age and so all we have left are each other. Between my sisters, daughters, aunts and friends, my pain and loneliness for my mom is eased just a little bit by each one of these "sisters" in my life.

Thanks for sharing this story.

Tricia

[Penni60 45]

Yeah I immediately called my long distance girlfriend and talked for over an hour after reading this.

[the best me 6]

I love my sister. Thanks for that, Penni, I just loved it! Here is my crazy funny pretty sister/friend Christie. The picture was taken close up by our dear sweet mother who tends to lop the heads off of people in photos. We have a crazy but fun family. I love my sister!!!

editing...oh my gosh the pic is so utterly huge she would just shoot me for leaving it up there...zit on face, everything! So here's another of her, hope it isn't too big!!

[kat72 0]

Penni, you brought tears to my eyes (seriously). This reminded me of an interview that Kim Cattrall did (when Sex In The City was really BIG). I think that she was going through a difficult time with the man in her life, but her girlfriends had really been there for her. I'll never forget what she said: "Friends come and go, but girlfriends (and sisters) are forever". I cried then, and I'm cryin' now, because it's so true! Thanx for the reminder.

[aaamom 0]

Thanks Penni...That was so beautiful and so true