Monday, November 26, 2007

In honor of Sara..

Today would have been my oldest sister's birthday. She would have been 58. Sad because she died so young-52 years old of Multiple Sclerosis. It was a sad day in December when I got the news while traveling around the country of Chile over the holidays. It was sudden, she had been doing pretty well but got an infection and in one 24 hour period, she was gone. Traumatic moment for me that day of the phone call, in a foreign country, shocked beyond belief. We got home on New Years Eve, 2001. Wasn't 2001 sad enough? There were 300 people at the funeral-it was surreal-this is my sister's funeral? I think of the daughters Sara left behind and how cruel it is that they don't have their mom anymore. I think wasn't it just yesterday when Sara was taking care of me as a kid and we were creating plays to perform for the neighborhood? Losing a sibling is up there with losing parents, only closer to home. I remember calling her on her last birthday alive. I remember where I was, what we said and that is a gift. Amazing really after all those birthdays all those years. And the thing I am most grateful for is that the last words I said to her on the phone on December 23rd, 2001 were "I love you".
Happy Birthday sis..

Think I will go and tell my loved ones and friends I love them again today..you never know..

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

That had to be so hard. I'm glad you have good memories with your sis.

Happy Birthday Sara :)

Anonymous said...

I'm right there with you, Debi
By the way...
I love you!
Molly

Vickie said...

Death puts a lot of things in perspective, especially when it is sudden and someone is so "young." While we don't know why, there is always a reason for everything, even an untimely death. I hope someday that reason presents itself to you, and helps put things to rest. And holidays always make you remember and miss the loved ones who have gone on to another place.

Duane said...

Don't know what to say except thanks for sharing this with us!

momo said...

oh, debi, i'm so very sorry. these are the events in our lives, when someone we love is taken from us, that define us the most, i believe. your sister's spirit will live on in you and in all those she left behind - you're honoring that beautifully.

big hugs, my friend.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful expression of your love, Debi. I can say "amen" to your sentiments....and I love you too!
Linda