Last year I blogged on my Sister's birthday
http://www.minormomentsphotography.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-sisters-birthday.html
I thought this might be a nice tradition for me to continue, so today, February 10th, 2012 I am blogging to wish my sister Carmen, a happy birthday. This would have been (is) her 55th birthday.
As I wrote about last year, Carmen and I always chose our birthday presents for each other very carefully. Rarely did we tell each other what we wanted because it was fun and exciting to see what we each chose on our own...and even though I saw Carmen every Christmas, and she always visited at this time with my Birthday present (my birthday being 4 days after Christmas) she always understood when I didn't unwrap it in front of her because I wanted to save it to unwrap on my Birthday. I always loved it, whatever it was that she chose for me...for as long as I can remember. So...as I stated last year, I will be shopping today...on my Sister's birthday, to search out a perfect gift, for her and from her, for me...and I'm pretty sure I'm going to hook up with my Mom for lunch, for this continues to be a difficult day for her too...and I told her we should celebrate together...I'm pretty sure Carmen would approve.
So, here's a follow up on my 2011. I did complete the prayer shawl I started, in my Sister's memory. I completed it, two days before my Father-in-Law passed away, and it was buried with him. Not in a million years did I see that one coming...I'm realizing the prayer shawl was for me. I did start another, while sitting in Hospice with my Father-in-Law. Again, I'm "a shawl a year" girl, and am hopeful this one will not find an immediate home like the last one did.
Also, my Sister had a rather extensive collection of Kaleidoscopes. My brother-in-law gave them to me this past year. They have been wrapped in paper for about 6 months. Last week I spent a day unwrapping them and placing them on display in their glass cabinet. This collection exaggerates the differences between my Sister and I. Before she became ill, she was a Kaleidoscope collector. She actually traveled to conventions to purchase them...and I never even knew there was such a thing. I was having babies and buying diapers. I can see why Carmen loved collecting these, and I'm over-the-moon happy to have them and be able to share them with anyone interested in looking at them.
Today I will be buying a battery to put in Carmen's Tinkerbell watch. Tinkerbell...something we definitely have in common.
My dog Chloe, again, born the day Carmen left us, is still the love of our lives. She is an amazing dog.
I continue to photograph the cats at the
Animal Refuge League and continue to wish I could share this with Carmen, a major cat lover.
And, I end by recalling something a friend told me shortly after Carmen died. I was telling this friend that I really thought Carmen was helping me with my photography, and I was going to miss that terribly, and the friend said, Carmen will be able to help you even more now, you just need to listen for her. I'm still working on that. I think the connection is there with the cats I photograph. Lucky for me no one really cares what I say to the cats...otherwise they might think of putting me in one of the cages too!
Happy Birthday Carmen! I miss you!
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