My sweet sister was born today in 1951.  She passed away September 3, 2007.  She was 56 years old. She left behind two boys and lots of family who loved her very much.  She is sorely missed by family and friends still, even though it has been 19 years.

Not only was she a sister to our three brothers and a sister to me, she was a loving, loyal, caring friend. The best friend you could have.  Oh, we could argue and argue we did!   None of us were ever wrong so it was a little difficult at times, but the love was always there.

My mother has told stories about Honey and how she was when I was born.  Mom said that Honey thought I was hers and no one should bother me.  She was very mothering and protective.  She was the same toward me the rest of her life.

Mom said that Honey just loved to hear me laugh.  She said Honey was dancing in front of me with her doll.  Something happened with the doll and I laughed and laughed.  Honey loved the laugh so much that she kept on with the doll and I was laughing and laughing.  Mom tried to get her to stop as it was her favorite doll but she wanted to hear my laugh.  She kept it up until the doll was destroyed.  Mom said even though it was her favorite doll, it did not bother her because my laugh was worth it.  Of course, I only know the story since I would have been too young to remember.

There is one story I keep thinking about for some reason.  We moved to Charleston in 1959 I believe.  I was not in school yet.  Honey had to start a new school.  We all know how the stress of that is.  No friends, not knowing the school, bus ride, it is hard.

For some reason, mom had to go to Honey’s school and she had to take me along.  I guess there was no one to babysit. Our younger brother must have tagged along too since he was not in school. 

Honey had told mom to not let me embarrass her.  I obviousy was attached to Honey.  Mom told this story but in later years Honey told it.  I can still see her face and hear her voice and all of the inflections in her voice.  I still laugh today thinking of her face and voice.

She said we walked in and mom was talking to the teacher as she held my hand. I found Honey in the room and started excitingly shouting and waving to her.  Honey says it like this … Honey Wee!  Oh Honey Wee!  Honey Wee!  She is waving with her arm flying around. She said she was so embarrassed and she put her hand up to her face and said she was slumping in her chair.  She said she could have died.  Then she added that I was so cute in the little dress and hat that I had on. She always called me Little Debbie. She still showed love in embarrassment.

Through the years we remained best friends.  We lived together … two different places in Charleston and one in Dekalb.  She moved to Springfield and I did not.  I spent a lot of time there, though … weekends and holidays and when I could, many days at a time.

She married and I married.  We still visited each other and spent the weekends and holidays together.  Arguments and disagreements, yes, many.  Laughter …. so very, very much!  Laughter was the biggest part of our family’s life.  Laughter until some snorted.  Laughter until you could not breathe.  Laughter until the race to the bathroom. Laughter, the best!

Oh there are so many, many memories. The school story has me laughing today on her birthday. 

Ha! She is still making me laugh and does not have to tear up her toys.

Do you remember on Everybody Loves Raymond where the little older man always throws his arms up in the air and says, “Ray’s Here! Ha Ha!”? Well, we do that a lot around here. We do not say that Ray is here, we just pump our arms in the air and say Ha ha! We do it when we are excited or happy about something. You have to have seen the man, he says Ha Ha in such a special way. It is not your regular voice. We imitate that as well.

It has been cold here, really cold, for those of you not located where we are. I had told my brother earlier in the day that I was bored out of my mind and starting to get lonely. Well, later on in the afternoon he texted me asking what I was doing. I responded that I was doing nothing, of course. Then he was texting really weird things, just dumb, funny things. Then the texting stopped. Of course, I became really excited. He was coming by the house, I just knew it! Oh boy, company!

I know what cars people drive. I know my children drive Nissans. I know people some family members drive vans and some suv’s, etc. I am not sure what make they are, I know the color and style. So, when a black suv pulled in the drive, I just knew it was my brother. I ran out the door and stood on the porch stoop and pumped my arms in the air and yelled loud enough for the neighborhood to hear, “HA, HA!!!!” I was all smiles and everything.

The two gentleman just stood and looked at me. Gosh, it was the Walmart delivery person. He had a friend with him. I stuttered around and said that I thought they were my brother. They just looked at me. Why do I keep doing this stuff to myself? Haha. I never, ever learn.