Sharing Family Memories August 12, 2024. 368 words

This past weekend, My brother Bob and my sister is law Peggy, visited and stayed overnight. They were traveling from Hamilton Ontario to the west side of Michigan. They were booked to take the ferry from Ludington to cross Lake Michigan to their home in Wisconsin. With the overnight visit, John and I had hours of conversation with Peggy and Bob.
I had not had the opportunity to have such an in depth conversation with Peggy for many years. While John and Bob sat in the kitchen, Peggy and I explored our early family back grounds and early education experiences. I found out that Peggy was shy, due in part to being the tallest girl in her class and being placed in the back of the classroom despite having difficulty reading the board.
I told her about the issues with getting eyedrops four times a day. My drawings in kindergarten had many drawing of a clock face with the hands pointing to five minutes to four. I had to receive an eye drop at four P.M in the middle of my afternoon play time.
Both of us looked and admired our brothers. Peggy’s brother was a straight A student. Peggy’s vision prevented her from doing the same. I was protected and insulated from bullies by my older brothers.
One neighborhood bully after pushing me down, causing my glasses to break, ended upside down in his trash can.
Hearing early stories from living inTexas and Boston filled in missing pages from her history. We found we had much in common with working to prove our worth. Peggy working as a librarian and myself as a Speech Pathologist teaching mentally impaired adults.
I found that we had many common values.
Retired now, we have reading and writing poetry in common. What a joy to find such a gem within my family. Being open helped that and requesting the men leave the room so I could concentrate on listening with all my ability. Conversation is an active skill.
*** poem
The Art of Conversation
listen respond question
little by little, unraveling
each other’s stories
discover a sister
I always wanted
closer than I could imagine
sisterhood
carolaspot@aol.com Copyrighted August 12 2024