Transitions

There are many transitions in life.  We go from being babies to talking, walking and kindergarten.  Awkward elementary to junior high crushes.  High school to graduation and (often) leaving our friends.  College and/or jobs that catapult us into the ‘real’ world and life.  And all along the way, there are a hundred and one smaller transitions that direct the paths we take.

My three sisters are teachers (brave souls).  We have an annual back to school shopping expedition (I go to laugh a lot and eat lunch).  Amanda (Brenda’s daughter) is the designated driver and clothes picker outer.  She finds it and hands it to whoever (usually Ada) to try on. 

We did wander through several stores but this year we had Kyleigh (Anola’s granddaughter) so there was more cooing over the baby than shopping.  Plus, I have a great-nephew due in November so the car was full of more baby stuff than anything else.  And of course, we laughed a lot. 

I remember many such trips with my mom and her sisters (I was the Amanda then).  Those women could get into some stuff and there was always lots of laughter; always lots of stories to tell.  Whenever we told stories on them, we just said The Sisters and everyone knew who we were talking about.  Mom was the last one and when she passed, The Sisters were no more.  

Well…maybe not.  Walking through Bealls, Brenda was talking about Mom and said something that marked one of those major transitions in our lives.  Suddenly she stopped and said, “We’re The Sisters now.”  There was silence as we thought about it.  Believe me, it was a solemn moment (just one, though). 

We couldn’t deny the truth.  We are a lot like my mom and her sisters were.  We can definitely get into some stuff and there is always lots of laughter.  And I know their children (my case, nieces and nephews) have lots of stories to tell.  We have lots of stories to tell. 

So, I believe we are capable of taking The Sisters mantel and running with it.  If we leave behind the kind of legacy that my mom and her sisters did, we will have done good.