Meet Amanda. Amanda is my little sister. She is beautiful and I love her. Life is bizarre in that we spent years together and could barely be in the same room without violent clashes. Once we began living thousands of miles apart, friendship finally happened upon us. She is kind to me when I do not deserve it and patient with me in a way that is required of few others. I do not normally write so much in my posts, but since this is my sister, I felt I should rise to the occasion and give you a little more insight into her and myself.
One of my favorite memories from the past few years includes the time I was home for Christmas and my hamster died (yes, I had a hamster – briefly – in college, get over it). Cause of death – shock from the exorbitant decibel level of the sanders as new floors were being installed. My room was upstairs and hers was in the basement – separation out of habit from our childhood I suppose. Upon my heartbroken discovery I trekked down the long spiral of stairs with the news of my loss. Falling to the floor in sadness at her feet I tried to calm myself as she assured me it would be ok and then disappeared. Twenty minutes later I went looking for Amanda only to catch a glimpse of her through the dining room window in the front courtyard. Opening the front door, I looked out and she stood there with a runny nose and rosy cheeks next to the tiny grave she had managed to carve out of the frozen earth. She smiled at me as a tear trickled down her cheek. We were the only attendees at that funeral, standing quietly in the falling snow as she and I said good-bye to my little pet. I think that was one of the first times I realized how wonderful sisters are.
My other favorite memory of late comes from Amanda’s most recent visit to Texas. Months prior, I had found out that Celine Dion was going to be performing in Dallas while she was in town. In an effort to prove that fun things do happen for those who live in Waco, my friends and I gathered up a group of tickets so we had something “exciting” to do / impress Amanda. Well let me just say that Amanda was deeply unimpressed. “I don’t even know any of her songs, Kathryn. Uuugh. I am staying home with Punkin (the dog).” Hmmm, my plan seemed to be failing miserably. Thankfully, I have great faith that anything can be what you make of it, and I somehow got the girl into the car and off we went to Dallas.
Sure enough, we had the WORST seats in the entire American Airlines center. Our backs were literally against the back wall. It is white and has holes in it. Also it is devastatingly hot in the upper realms of that arena. At this point I was hovering around the “I hate you for this and am never coming to visit again” range with Amanda. But as fate would have it, I happen to have some of the most hysterical, persuasive, lovely friends in the world. One in particular, the fabulous Jill Mashburn, had snuck down to the private box section of the AA center for some margaritas. Being a savvy and observant business woman, she noticed a very empty Ford Motors box. Where all the husbands that had gotten in trouble with their wives and now had to make up for it were, I can not tell you. For the two couples that were in attendence, a sincere plea from our die-hard Celine Dion friend convinced them to welcome our entire motley crew into their box. We experienced Celine the way she is meant to be – at a safe distance and with enough room to dramatically accompany her every song. Because you see, that is the glory of Celine Dion, you do not have to listen to her music to know her songs. You just know them. Thank you 1990s / Titanic. I turned to Amanda during the third song to find that she was in unbelief at just how magical it was that even she knew every lyric. We laughed, we laughed some more, and I think Amanda may even come back to visit this year. :)
Amanda lives in the Champaign-Urbana, IL area and cornfields really do make up most to all of the landscape.
She also owns a moped and I giggle just a little every time I think of her scooting around town on that whimsical bike. Love you sisah!
