Over Emry’s bed hangs the beautiful cross-stitch picture of
a bear riding a carousel horse. It is framed by a little train, the alphabet
and numbers with Emry’s name and birthdate. All in pastel and surrounded by a
pink mat. Over the last couple of weeks, Emry has wanted to touch it before I
put her down for her naps or bedtime. So every evening, we remember Aunt Sally
who stitched it for her.
Today Sally turns 28! Which is a bit hard to believe. I
remember rather clearly the evening Mom went into labor with her. In the days
before cell phones, getting in touch with my dad eventually meant my
grandmother went up to the church to get him. I wasn’t overly impressed with a
new little sister for the simple extremely selfish reason that it meant I could
have only one friend over for my 8th birthday a couple of weeks
later instead of five or six. (Now I completely understand why my mother
insisted upon that!) But a baby sister is a baby sister. Not many of my friends
had one of those!
Growing up, it seemed Sally dared life to get the better of
her. If eating leaves, dirt and sticks wasn’t going to kill her, maybe drowning
would. Or simply not thinking through feats that defy gravity. (Although I
guess I was just as bad in that area, trying to be Mary Lou Retton on the swing
set…) She and Daniel could come up with more mischief…and yet she also loved to
have tea parties and pretty dresses. A true study in contrasts.
In Sally’s world, black was black and white was white. I
think she now knows that there are, sadly, grey areas to be had in life. But I
have to give her credit where credit is due. In some things, she knows her own
mind and sticks to it. And she is not afraid to ask just about anything is she
wants to know something. Ed still laughs at all the questions she drilled him
with the first time they met.
She almost makes amazing cakes. My wedding cake was just as
I wished it to be and it was wonderfully delicious. If I wasn’t bound and
determined to make Emry’s 1st birthday cake myself, I would ask Aunt
Sally to come and do it. (Instead I’m trying to put aside the comparison game
and out of pure will power create something that won’t embarrass Emry when she
looks back at pictures.)
I admire Sally for her willingness to try new things. To
take steps out on branches that may crack beneath her. To know how to shoot a gun and take classes
in some form of fighting (can’t remember what it’s called!), but to also spend
hours creating lovely cross-stitch pictures and delicious baked goods. And so
she remains a study in contrasts…
Happy 28th Birthday, Sally!
Aunt Sally teaching Emry how to play with blocks.
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