Sister's

Happy Friday to all! Although this week was considered a short week for most, it was a busy week for me. Guess what? No complaints from me. I would rather be active and productive than not. I had the pleasure to attend my family reunion recently; I am sure, like most, it has been a while hence the global pandemic. My sister, Cece, less than two years older than me, was on the committee, and when I say they did a phenomenal job, that is an understatement. They had everything from bowling, karaoke, spades, and a BBQ at the beach and ended with a masquerade ball. It was wonderful to attend all of the events. It was GREAT to be in the presence of family. Family is so important to me; whether we think we need people in some capacity or not, we need others to improve our quality of life.

Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future.

-Gail Lumet Buckley

The thing I love the most about family is that you can see yourself in others deeper than you realize. The truth is that we are typically products of our environments and often are influenced by others. A great example is when I saw my nephew serving in the Air Force; he followed in his mother's footsteps to join the Armed Forces. He is striving to obtain E-8 status, is married, and is almost done with his master’s degree. When he first began his collegiate journey, he contacted me, and I was able to share some advice on higher education. My father encouraged me to go to college and influenced me. Whereas my mother was set on always building a legacy and not working for others, she has been very successful in many areas of her life. She has passed the entrepreneurial mindset to two of my sisters, Cece and Trish.

?We all collect good and bad habits from our family, but we must sift through the negative and hold on to the positives. My parents were loving and present, but they were also hard-working, and with me being the baby of the family, I spent LOTS of time with my sisters. If they were writing this article, they might say I was a bit of a harasser, mainly Cece. I wanted to talk all the time! She was more chill than me. But one thing we have always done as sisters is love, support, guide, and embrace one another.

"Sister. She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your press agent, and even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child."

—Barbara Alpert

Although I have been all over the world and have made friends from various social and economic statuses, ethnicities, and religions, I have never met anyone like MY sisters. My eldest sister passed in November; it was tough. My sister after that is hilarious; I get a lot of my wit and free spirit from her. She is a fun person to spend time with and an excellent cook. One thing about her is that she can read me like a book, from my adolescent to my adult years. Then we have my sister after her, who taught me discipline, planning, courage, and accountability. She served 22 ? years in the military, I visited her abroad, and she always willingly hosted me. I caught my travel bug when I went to Frankfurt, Germany, to see her. We went sightseeing in Paris, France, and it was awesome. Lastly, the one close to me in age…my goodness, have we driven one another crazy, YES! But hell, or high water, she is my ace. We are all different but also so much alike. No matter where I lived, she was at every childbirth and graduation. We support one another and intertwine our lives to produce unbreakable bonds. There is beauty in siblings; although I speak of my sisters, this applies to sisters, brothers, and more regardless of blood bonds, marriage, adoption, or whatever.

I have non-blood-related sisters that I can call and count on no matter what. The focus is on the bond, the fight, and the continuous fostering of the relationships. One thing I reflected on when my sister passed in November was that we think we have more time than we do. Listen, nothing and no one is perfect, but if you can add value to one another, do so. If you live on purpose with a purpose, you can pour into others more than you think. It takes effort and intentionality, but it pays dividends to all parties. All siblings are not ideal, and some people can be toxic, and that is something that each person can lean on their discernment to navigate through. However, if that is not the case, I challenge you to spend some time with your sisters (siblings) while you can. Here are several suggestions to do just that:

·????????Communicate: Call or text one another often – My sister Cece hates when I text but loves when I call. Adjust and adapt as needed and do not major in the minors.

·????????Let go of the past or the need to be right: No one is right always, do not be petty, and allow people to grow. Over time we all evolve; embrace your sibling's growth and opinions.

·????????Quality time: In-person time is irreplaceable. If this is not possible, Facetime or Zoom to get caught up.

·????????Plan a trip: Do not wait for emergencies like funerals or weddings to be the only gathering time. Last year we planned a much-needed sister trip (I was ill with COVID and missed it), but we planned another and met in Las Vegas to see the Silk Sonic tour and had a ball.

Lastly, sisters come in many packages, from tribal sisters, souls’ sisters, and work sisters, to a sister of the heart. Love one another with all your might; we could all use more love and support.

To my sisters, Shellie, Myra, and Cece, always know your influence, support and guidance mean the world to me. I love you to the moon and back!

-Renny, aka Neffie

Stick to the basics, and hold on to your family and friends; they will never go out of fashion!

-Niki Taylor ?