Sister Dearest

A co-worker was looking at a picture I had on my desk of my sister the other day, trying to determine if there was any resemblance. When we were younger, everyone knew we were sisters. The dark hair and dark eyes combined with the rugrat look we so proudly displayed gave it away.

I'll be the first one to admit though, I was a horrible big sister. Let me count thee ways!

We used to help clean houses when we were little for spending money. One time at the next door neighbour's while cleaning one day, I talked her into getting into the dryer. God only knows how I charmed her into that, but it worked, so I turned the dryer on. She did a couple of rotations with some very loud thumping before I opened the door. She was nicely air-fluffed with only a minor cut on her toe.

Another time dad left us in the car alone for perhaps too long of an extended period. I, being a little ADD'ish was getting bored, so I thought it would be fun to throw the gum I was chewing into my sister's hair. Keep in mind, she had long beautiful hair that was my mother's pride and joy. After this, not so much. Every trick in the book didn't get the wad of gum out of her locks. Only the scissors and a good hair cut solved that beauty. My mother loathed me.

What else? There was this girl named Denise Gould who kept breaking every bone in her body. A tragedy really, but she always got a lot of attention out of it. My sister decided she also needed attention, so I told her if she broke a bone, maybe it would help. So she went and got a hammer and took it to her leg to try and break it! Unfortunately she turned out to be quite hardy, and could only muster up some pretty nasty bruises.

I believe it was around that age that she also started getting a little hair on the legs. So I told her she should start shaving her legs. Well she was maybe a little young for that, but she, again, listened to me and went for it. Of course, once you shave that first time, it only comes back thicker and faster. Let's just say, her puberty was perhaps brought on a little sooner than she would have liked, in part, thanks to me.

I was evil, what can I say? I'm grateful I didn't grow up to be a horrible person and she still speaks to me. But after reading this, how can you not think my sister was THE MOST gullible person in the world lol??

Tia

He's Purr-fect!

About 5 years ago, I took in this scrawny, beat up, scratched up stray who I named Capone because of the scars you could see on his face from his many tom-cat brawls. He was actually quite friendly for a stray, and it didn't take long to find his weak spot - belly rubs. Soon I was taking walks with my little orange guy walking right alongside me like most people would walk their dogs. He'd just follow along, happy as spit. He's still the same to this day.

One of his oddities though was that when I found him, he didn't know how to purr! He'd get excited and snort through his nose like a dragon trying to breathe fire. It was the funniest, but saddest thing, at the same time. After 5 years though, he has found his purr, although a quaint one.

Last night while in bed, he was laying on top of my leg. The world was peaceful and quiet enough that I could feel him purring and if you listened closely, you could hear his little purr. These moments in life are what make me smile.

Tia

The Travel Bug

I would probably be a much richer person if I didn't always have the travel bug. It's the reason my visa is dying a slow death and why I can replicate a good security pat down.

It all started when I turned 30. I decided that year that life was too short and I had seen very little outside of Alberta or Saskatchewan. It became my life's mission to take a trip somewhere each year where I'd never been before. My first destination was San Fransisco! Well South San Fransisco. Apparently they're different cities. Little did I know this when I booked my hotel is South San Fran. Luckily there was a lovely bus route right by my hotel that accounted for about 40 minutes of my day each way.

Since then I've been to Jacksonville in Florida, Jekkyl Island and Savannah in Georgia, Corpus Christie and South Padre Island in Texas, New Orleans, Vancouver, Toronto and even Winnipeg. This summer if all goes well and I don't get fired, laid off or go broke, I'm hoping to go to the Carolinas.

I've learned a lot of tricks over the years and mastered travel for a week with only one small suitcase. The first few years I actually packed only a backpack of stuff and was on my way. But then luggage with wheels came along and seemed like a fabulous idea so I went astray like the rest of the world. I've also come to expect that I'll likely be one of those people pulled aside and questioned at the border. I just have the gypsy look or something. Although I have yet to have a full cavity search, knock on wood.

My advice though, if you have the means to travel, do! It's relaxing, interesting, enriching, and breathing the air somewhere else just makes you a better person. One thing I'd suggest though, is try to truly appreciate your surroundings. I went to Europe when I was in grade 12, and although cool, I didn't appreciate that experience the way I should have. Now, I wish I could go back and make good on that.

Tia