Salutations™!!

So, I struggled today with what to write about but I decided that I would write about both and I felt the struggle leave. There are TWO major milestones happening today. On this day in 1977, my little sister was born. I’m no maths scholar by any means but if I take 1,977 from 2,017, that leaves 40. Right? FORTY! Man, it’s often a surprise that I let her live that long. Of course, I jest. She’s always taken good care of me when she needed to. 

When we were much younger, we rarely got along. I’m a month shy of seven years older than her. It’s not like I hide my age so I’m not giving anything away there. She was too young to hang with my friends and truthfully, she annoyed the bejeezus out of me.  Always wanted to play with my stuff and always claimed that everything was hers. There was something about a Whitney Houston record and a Fleetwood Mac tape in there somewhere, right, sis? As we grew older, the contention didn’t necessarily go away.

Once, when we were still living in WV, she kept doing cartwheels in front of the TV while I was watching wrestling. I asked her to stop. I told her to stop. She didn’t stop. I got up on the back of the ugly (but oh so interesting) black/white/red chair I was sitting in and when she came through again, I did a clothesline off the “top rope” on her and she hit her head and I busted her lip. There was also a time when we had just moved here and I was “watching” her. I locked her out of the house and she put a broom handle through the window. Or was it me? I don’t really remember.

We had some big arguments, water (with ice) thrown to the face, a takedown, near hits and near misses. I don’t know about her, but I’m not proud of any of those fights, but that’s what siblings do, right? I would always make her so mad when she would throw the “I’m going to tell mom!” at me. I would hurry and tell on myself so she didn’t get the satisfaction. She would do whatever she could to get me into trouble but then would stand and scream at our mother to stop whipping me. Those were the days.

But, because we all end up growing up, somehow, we did. We don’t always see eye-to-eye but I really enjoy hanging out with her, now. We can have “life” conversations, general conversations, she listens to a few of my podcasts religiously (and I talk about her on those), we’ve grown up. She’s a great mother to my nephews. Any problems they have is certainly not from my side of the family. I kid. We get to hang out sometimes and have dinner at Willows and we always talk cooking and recipes during the holidays. She still can’t let things go, but that’s just our Leah. I wouldn’t want her any other way. She’s bad-arsed in just about every way. The BCPF says she’s so glad that my sister likes her and is glad she’s “on her side.” She’s scary when she’s not on your side. I’m scared of her. So, happy birthday or solar circumnavigational anniversary day, sis. I do love ya and can’t wait until we’re back at Willows having a burger and sangria.  I could write a 10,000-word blog post and it would still not be enough to cover her and my stories.

SO, the other thing that I’m celebrating today is that on my sister’s 40th birthday, it’s also The Less Desirables‘ 400th episode! Who would have thought when Brian and I started this roller coaster ride back in 2010 that it would still be going strong in 2017? I could see missing a few weeks here and there, but nope (in actuality, only one was missed). We’ll have world-class body painter Cheryl Ann Lipstreau in to celebrate with us and maybe a few other guests. I’ll probably get my face painted. You’ll want to hear that, I’m sure. So, here’s to Brian, Eugene, Caitlin, Bruce and Danielle for helping me keep this dream alive. I still love my “job” and love sharing it with you, Dear Reader (and Listener). 400 is a big number, I hope the next 400 will be as fun as the first 400. Thank you for listening!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“For there is no friend like a sister in calm or stormy weather; To cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands.” – Christina Rossetti