Elizabeth, Cullene, & Margaret-February 1973
The other day my sister Margaret and I were talking about our birthdays this month. If you have been reading my posts over the last few days then you know I’m having my 50th birthday this Friday and Margaret will be right behind me with her 48th on September 28th. It almost doesn’t seem possible that both us are now significantly older than our step-mom Cullene was in this photograph. Sitting demurely between me at twelve and Margaret’s smiling ten year-old self, I am sure she had no idea the direction her life was about to take.
She was a new bride in this photograph and at thirty-nine never expected that she would give birth to my youngest sister a little over a year later. It’s been 38 years since this picture was taken and several things strike me about this image. Margaret still laughs in the same way she did back then and I still smile large enough to see my back molars most of the time. I don’t think I ever noticed that Cullene is sitting in front of my favorite flower which as it turns out is Margaret’s favorite too.
Two years after this photo was taken and not long after our birthdays in 1974, we were separated by bad circumstances for a ten-year period where celebrating our birthdays was not something we were able to share. In fact, the last time we had a chance to celebrate our birthday’s together in the same year, we were twelve and fourteen and let’s just say right now that 36 years later, we plan to make up for all of those missed birthdays.
We are off to London in a few minutes to spend the next week celebrating the chance to see more of the world together along with sharing a room … something we haven’t down since we were about as old as we are in the photograph above. Watch out London!
Gifts Of The Journey 
Happy Wonderful Birthday dear Elizabeth!!
I know you and your sister will have a sweet and wonderful time!
Thank you for sharing so much of your life with those of us that care to read you-actually I have your wonderful writing come straight to my inbox via feed..
I love your blog and the wonderful perspective you share!
Have a great day on Friday!
Incidentally, my birthday is on Monday! ;o)
Happy birthday for Friday. I hope you have a wonderful time and make up for all those lost birthdays.
Happy Birthday Elizabeth , Oh yes watch out .. two women with lots of time to make up ..being together, and not just women SISTERS!!!!!
Wishing you fun and laughter x
Happy birthday!
Hugs,
–Steven
Enjoy your time together and make lots of wonderful memories. Have a great birthday.
I’m so happy for you. Have a wonderful time in London. Oh, and 50 is not so bad!
Have a wonderful time in London with your sister and Happy Birthday.
Have a great holiday! And Happy Birthday!
So very happy for you both!! Here’s to making up for lost time!
Happy birthday to both of you!
I’ve finally had a moment to catch up on some blog reading. This series is wonderful. It’s fun to get some of the background info.
Your story about being the oldest girl made me very grateful for my Mom. She was the oldest of 10 and knew how isolating it could be. When I was little, I naturally tried to boss my brother and sister and my Mom would cut me off, “OTRgirl, that’s my job, not yours.” I was SO hurt at the time, but I’m so grateful for her wisdom now. They did a lot to allow me and my brother and sister to function closer to peers than to a birth rank. When I was old enough to babysit, instead of leaving me in charge, they told us, “When we come home, if the house is in order and no one has anything to tell us, we’ll split the cost of the sitter between you.” Brilliant! My brother and I would try to kill each other and then clean up the house together: great training in conflict resolution.
Anyway, I’m really happy that your sister is there and that you get to go off galavanting together. Enjoy!
Have a great time!