A Special Birthday

Today would have been my sister Helen’s birthday. I wish she were here to celebrate, but even though she isn’t here, she left lasting memories for those who loved her.

Never did my sister say she was bored; she didn’t have time to be bored. Always busy, dust and dirt found no refuge when Helen was around. Her house was spotless and her meals, delicious. After she married and came back to visit Mom and Dad, she felt it her duty and joy to clean Mom’s house, top to bottom. And, while she did this, we talked. And laughed. And shared secrets. We had some of our best visits over a sudsy sink full of dishes.

She was an excellent cook. I still use her recipe for yeast bread every Thanksgiving and Christmas. She sewed for her children, shared with me a recipe for play-dough, and watched over her family like a loving and sometimes fierce guardian angel. Besides all this, she wrote beautiful poetry, a song about the twelve apostles,  and an article that was printed in a national paper. She was a dreamer and a doer.

She had a lively sense of humor and an infectious laugh. When we couldn’t get together, we talked on the phone. And, we wrote letters. I still have a special letter or two that she wrote, and lots of birthday cards.

When Mom died, we were like lost children and Helen said, “We’ll remember the good times.” Well, Sis, now you’re gone and I’m still here but I’ll re-read the verse on one of your birthday cards, “It’s nice to have a sister who is just the perfect blend of a warm and loving person and a very special friend!”  That was you, Sis. And, I’ll remember the good times.