Sister to Friend

As a child I grew up in a small town, well, just outside of a small town.  Living out of town allowed for lots of exploring and make believe, it also meant that I would tag along with my sister and whatever friend she had over.  I want to say she didn’t mind, but maybe she did, either way that didn’t stop me. 

I spent most of my childhood playing outside, in the bush that surrounded us and, in the river, to cool off on those hot days.  Some summer days I went to the beach with my cousins who would be staying at their cabin nearby.  I remember walking in the dark to my cousin’s cabin when I knew she would be there that Friday and it was safe, all the houses that surrounded us were family.

As mentioned above I followed my older sister everywhere.  I remember one time her and her friend decided to push me while running in the wheelbarrow and then they stopped and snuck away leaving me to bring back the wheelbarrow, boy was I mad at the time, now I laugh about it because it is funny. 

Another time, well I want to say this one happened a few times, I woke up with lipstick all over my face because they colored me in my sleep.  At the time I slept like a rock, since having children I don’t anymore, and I really do miss it sometimes. 

We went tubing down the river during the summer once we were old enough to go on our own and had so much fun down there.

I think the funniest thing we ever did was when my parents switched their waterbed for a normal mattress, and we asked if we could fill the waterbed bag with air.  So, there we were bouncing on it and off it when we thought if someone sits on the end and other jumps on the other side that person will pop up.  We continued like this for awhile just us three girls, not sure if I mentioned that this friend was over all the time when we were kids.  Then it was my turn, so there I am (maybe 10 years old) facing away from them waiting for them to run and pop me into the air, I heard the running and felt the excitement then I flew, I did not do the small pops we had been doing.  I flew, arms and legs flailing, and I fell face first on the ground knocking the wind out of me and all my parents saw from where they were sitting was me laying there and my shoulders moving as though I was crying, and they came running.  I was not crying; I was laughing so hard and how I didn’t break a bone I have no clue because that was a hard fall.  Turns out our neighbor saw what we had been doing and asked if he could be the one to jump on the other end, this neighbor was 16 years old and much bigger compared to my little 10 year old self.

We had bikes and went everywhere on those bikes.  One time while we were biking in our usual area my brakes didn’t work and while this may not seem like a big deal, it was.  I was going down a hill, with a river at the bottom, and the river was flowing hard since it was the beginning of May.  Needless to say I ended up in the river, and how I got out I couldn’t tell you but I know that I did get out.  Luckily our older sister was babysitting at the house right next to where I went in and called our parents to come get me.  And they did, my dad went into the river to get my bike for me and asked how I got out because he had trouble getting back out against the current and my dad was a big man.  I just told him I don’t remember, and I really don’t.  I remember going in and then being on the bank with my sister pulling me up, adrenaline, I guess.

As we got into our teenage years things changed a bit but not by much.  Now she would go out to a good old Manitoba social and would bring me with her and her friends.  She always included me, and my friends were surprised at how much we hung out together.

Again, we got older and busier with each of us having our own families we sort of grew apart and went through some harder times.  But even through the tough times, I loved my older sister.  I don’t think I can’t, we spent our childhood together all the time.  I guess living out of town was a blessing because we were each other’s friend.

Not going to say it was all nice and loving, oh there were fights, fists too sometimes, and the one mom got mad at us the most for the sharpie fight, that one wasn’t our best idea. 

Either way, playing games and having fun or fighting and ending up with sharpie all over myself, I love my sister and I don’t think anything can change that.

I do have another sister that I also love….. she’ll be jealous if I don’t mention that hahaha

Chantal M.