by Jeanni Ritchie
There’s nothing like having a sister.
You’ve seen the memes. There’s the one that proclaims a sister is a friend for life with sweet little girls holding each other tight. Then there’s the one that says you haven’t truly lived unless you’ve been chased around the house by your knife-wielding sister.
My sister and I definitely fell into the latter camp!
We were five years apart, and I was the oldest. In sister-speak that meant I was in charge. She was drafted into living room productions of Grease and Gypsy reenactments. She played the board games I chose. She sat in whichever chair I didn’t want.
I acted like she needed me. In truth, I needed her just as much. I secretly loved that she wanted to sleep in my room because I hated sleeping alone. Playing games and performing show tunes with a live-in playmate meant I was never lonely. I was never scared with her by my side.
I admired her spunky attitude, tomboyish athleticism, and zero fear. I was bookish, uncoordinated, and scared of my own shadow.
We had our ups and downs throughout my teen years. She definitely didn’t know how to stick to an alibi when we were supposed to have been at a basketball game. (I got grounded for two months!) Yet a few years later she had no problem insisting she was innocent the day my Camaro went for a joyride without me down Jackson Street!
That was around the same time she entered high school, a year after I’d graduated. She was no Jan Brady. This was not a Marcia, Marcia, Marcia situation. She draws laughter when she imitates her teachers that first week.
“Are you Jeanni Ritchie’s sister?” she draws her face up in disgust. “You’re gonna sit right here in the front by me!”
I’m pretty sure that’s an exaggeration but I’m certain she wanted to change her name or change schools following my high school antics!
There were fun times too. We were once pregnant together (my fifth, her first) and I loved sharing that experience with her. We bonded over swollen feet and nocturnal cravings.
That closeness, however, came and went. We had conflicts and miscommunications for years. There were resentments and regrets.
But we were always been able to count on each other when push came to shove in life.
After all, that’s what being a sister is all about!
National Sisters Day is August 4, 2024.
Jeanni Ritchie recently moved back home, next door to her sister who would now do anything for her. Except reenact Broadway musicals. She says that ship has sailed.
