Today marks the two year anniversary since time of death was called for my sister. No doubt I am in hiding today. While I do pretty well generally speaking, there are still moments my world tilts and I forget to breathe when I think about how long its been since I was able to call her. At 35 years old, she left us way too early and at the hand of arrogance, ignorance and greed which makes it all the more tragic for both the family and her husband and 5 year old son (at the time).
So in lieu of my normal
Monday Listcles hosted by the amazing
Stasha at The Good Life, today's list will be 35 memories of her. I thought to maybe save this for her birthday in a few short weeks but it works for today. We'll go with it.
1. She always called me on the first day of the school year to see how it went. Our respective jobs overlapped in the education arena. I loved that bond we had over work.
2. Her silent laugh. When she was super tickled about something her mouth hung open, sometimes her eyes clamped shut and she just shook. No sounds came out and sometimes she would nearly pass out from not breathing.
3. As her little sister I always followed her fads. First it was listening to the forbidden rock station, Q104, secretly buying Poison and Guns N Roses CD and then it was sharing her hatred of country music.
4. Then she met her husband and she loved country music. Amazingly so did I. I still listen to it when I want to feel close to her.
5. She was amazing at her job as a recruiter for a large culinary university. She traveled the US presenting and judging culinary competitions.
6. The irony of her job was not lost on me. She couldn't make scrambled eggs until in her late 20's. I'm pretty sure she is the only person I know who could catch the house on fire, literally, while cooking. And she did! At my parents one family get together.
7. When she died I was beyond astonished, although I shouldn't have been, the number of lives she touched in her 35 years and the distances they traveled to pay their respects to her.
8. She never once EVER talked badly about her husband.
9. When I turned 19, she helped me get a fake ID. Pretty sure she can't get in trouble for it now seeing as how she is dead, (<---I really did laugh at that thought) so I can tell you she helped me. I just won't tell you how.
10. When I was 5 she called me a jackass. When I asked my mom what a jackass was I got in trouble for saying it and was sent to my room.
11. When she was in high school, I caught her boyfriend sneaking out of the house one night as the rest of us were walking in from the garage. I never said a word. I'm pretty sure he would remember if I were to ask him about it today.
12. When it stormed she let me sleep in her bed with her. I was terrified of lightening catching our house on fire. My room was two stories above the driveway - no way out. Her's wasn't.
13. Even while sitting in the ER the week she died she was cracking jokes and the entire nursing staff loved her. Everyone was always at ease around Wendy.
14. When I was 18 I spent my spring break in Virginia with her and her husband. They were living there at the time. She took me to get my belly button pierced. My dad nearly skinned me when I returned home.
15. She was VERY allergic to bananas - like face swelling type of allergic. I use to chase her around the house with banana peels and my lips all puffed out when she irritated me.
16. We took a family trip to Hawaii one year. She fell asleep on the beach and forgot sunscreen. The entire plane ride home she could hardly move. She really DID look like a lobster.
17. One plane ride we took together, she had to pee really badly but didn't want to use the lavatory on board. I sang Row Row Row Your Boat for a solid 10 minutes until she hauled off and punched me. I still think she peed a little too.
18. She would call me while out shopping when she came across a pair of what she considered ugly shoes. She always said I wore ugly shoes. If she thought they were ugly she knew I would like them.
19. They were the Griswolds when it came to Christmas decorations. Truly. Their electric bill would triple for the season. They lived on a 2.5 acres with tons of yard to fill!
20. She was late to everything. If she was on time, it was just to her own funeral. We always knew to tell Wendy the arrival time at least 30 minutes prior to when we really wanted her there.
21. She was the best Mom ever. I always thought she over indulged. I was wrong. After having my own I know now and even though her son probably won't ever remember it, I am SO happy she gave him all that extra time those first 5 years.
22. She loved her sweats. If she was home, she was wearing sweats.
23. She was such a lightweight with alcohol. She could just SMELL a margarita and be drunk.
24. She was extremely sentimental. She had a whole book of trinkets collected and cards saved from just the first year she dated her husband.
25. Her nickname was BubbleButt and aptly so even into adulthood. Girl had a JLO booty!
26. She was a news radio junkie
27. She was my go-to ride during my short run a partying hard. Can't tell you now many times she picked me up after too many margaritas.
28. She had back surgery at 15. I only remember her laying face down on the couch for days and trying eat Jello like that. Its nearly impossible by the way...unless you use a straw.
29. She did a lot of driving for work. She loved listening to novels on CD. I entered a ton of giveaways for those type of books. Most all of them arrived after she died though.
30. Peach was her favorite color
31. We used to bribe our younger sister with the choice of TWO shiny pennies or ONE dime to do our chores for us. She always went for the TWO pennies.
32. It rained for the three days prior to her time of death being called. Just as it was called and final prayer given the sun came out.
33. She had been away at college maybe a week and I was moving all my stuff into her room. I WANTED that room!
34. She was a night owl. She would still be up at 3am working or playing or doing something. She always gave me shit about going to bed at 9p even though she knew I got up at 4:30am.
35. Whenever she was at a loss for words, when something slipped her mind, if she tripped over nothing (which we girls are prone to do), got lost driving somewhere, or generally screwed something up she would always blame it on her "brain tumor" and laugh. Little did we know, she actually had one. While sitting in the hospital waiting for surgery this became the running joke.
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