1. Yesterday I spent with my sisters celebrating two of their birthdays. Even though this involves juggling the schedules of five busy women and many hours of driving and an overnight stay, we always get together several times a year -- just the four of us and our Mum -- to do what we like best. That happens to involve eating fabulous food which we haven't had to prepare. And talking. A lot.
It's not that we don't chat often by phone or on-line but in person, just the five of us, is different. It's that natural flow of topics, one to another, the reminiscing, the teasing, the surprising observations (and the unsurprising ones), the sharing of what matters most in our lives...along with the trivial fun stuff.
Our ages span 14 years so we weren't always so close, especially as kids when a gap of five years seems like another generation, but as we've matured so has our relationship. Simply, my sisters are my best friends.
Yesterday in Sydney (how good is that view?)
2. I'm also fortunate to have a wonderful bevy of sisters-in-law, one of whom has just returned from a mercy dash to the other side of the world. Because HER sister needed her. To me that illustrated, concisely, the bond of sisters. In a time of need, they will do whatever is necessary...even if that involves flying halfway around the globe on a moment's notice.
3. Which brings me to fiction and the book I am currently writing, which happens to feature sisters who (perhaps not so surprisingly) share a close bond. Not a perfect one -- sometimes they exasperate each other, they've experienced envy, frustration, misunderstandings -- but when it comes to the crunch, to the worst moments and the most blissful, they know who to call first.
So, let's talk sisters. Do you have a sister (in blood or in friendship) who is always there for you? Do you like to read about this special bond in fiction? Have you read a book recently -- or do you have a favourite -- which celebrates the bond of sisterhood?
I have an older sister. I was born on her 7th birthday. I was told that her reaction when she got to hold me for the first time was that she would rather have had a doll for a present. My mom dressed us in older-younger sister dresses, which was a pain for her and a treat for me. This past year has been hard for both of us as she has been in and out of the hospital three times for various ailments and her husband died just 15 days short of their 50th anniversary. My husband and I don't have any kids but she shares her 5 kids and their families (12 grand kids) with us.
ReplyDeleteI love reading sister stories but cannot think of any right now. I like your description of sisterhood under number 3. That's my sister and I
Hi Kaelee
DeleteHow special to share a birth date with your only sister (although I LOLed at her comment!) and especially that she shares her family with you. What a special gift that is. I am sorry to hear that she is having a tough time and hope that her health is improving now.
Great photo of you and your mum and sisters, Bron! And it sounds like your lunch date was terrific.
ReplyDeleteMy sister and I live in different countries now but we certainly burn up the phone lines for long chats! There's only 18 months between us - though, of course, when we were kids even that seemed huge!
I enjoy stories about sisters! There's a great story written BY sisters ABOUT sisters which I think is the ultimate in collaboration and that's Ali Ahearn and Ros Baxter's Sister Pact!
Trying to think of other "sister' stories I've read... there's a Nora Roberts series about three witches that's fab, too.
*Snap* on your sister story choices, Sharon. They are two I was thinking of while writing the post. Nora has done other sister series -- some with more difficult relationships than others -- but then she is simply wonderful at character dynamics. I also loved Anne Gracie's Merridew sisters and Jane Porter's Brennan sisters.
DeleteNot books, but I adored the TV series Brothers and Sisters because it explored the relationships between siblings (and their parents.)
Your blog made me cry, Bron. Happy tears because I so "get" the strength of sisterly bonds and I just love how you and your sisters are close and make the effort to *stay* close.
ReplyDeleteAnd you all looked so great in that pic. Your Mum must be so proud of you all.
Thanks Sharon for mentioning Sister Pact! Despite warnings of dire consequences, writing with Ros only brought us closer!
Jenny Crusie has had some wonderful stories that explore sisterhood and the lengths sisters will go to for each other.
Happy tears = good tears. I am in awe of you and Ros working together to write Sister Pact. I'm so glad that brought you even closer.
DeleteHi Bron
ReplyDeleteI am the eldest of four girls no brothers and there is 5 years and 10 days between the eldest and youngest :) we have lost our Mum but often the five of us would spend time together and always were laughing and having fun one of my sisters lives in Queensland one lives with me and the other on the Central Coast here in NSW and unfortunatley we only get together about once every 2 years at Christmas and it is this year we will all be at Beteau Bay ont he central coast for Chrissy with all of our families and it is sure to be fun times lots of reminicing and laughter and then the 4 of us will do something together on Boxing Day and so looking forward to it. As for stories with sister love them Eloisa James had a great series about 4 sisters and Julia Quinn's Brigerton series is also great. Love that photo of you all :)
Have Fun
Helen
You also are one of four? That's wonderful Helen and even more wonderful that you are getting together this Christmas. I'm sure you'll have a brilliant time.
DeleteI'm a *big* fan of both Eloisa James and Julia Quinn. Love those series.
I love that photo with your sisters and mum, Bron.
ReplyDeleteI have a sister who's three years younger than me and we really are best friends. We've lived together, travelled together and speak a couple of times a week still even though she lives a long way away.
And I'm so glad that my own daughters have sisters, an identical twin each, so they can know the incredible gift that being and having a sister is.
The bond of twins is another level again -- how lucky your daughters are to have that gift. Beautifully said, Barb.
DeleteSuch a beautiful photo, Bron.
ReplyDeleteYes, sisters are such wonderful people to have in your life!!!!
Thanks, Jen. Truer words never spoken.
ReplyDeleteMy sister is 11 years younger than I am, so we didn't really "grow up" together. We are close now, but unfortunately, she lives in Fla & I live in NY, and neither of us has the budget or time to fly back & forth. One sister series that stands out from a few years ago is Christie Ridgway's Three Kisses.
ReplyDeleteSharlene, that eleven years age-difference was no doubt huge as children but now is nothing. Living so far apart is *not* nothing but I bet you talk often and are always there for each other for support and love.
DeleteI haven't read the CR series -- must look that one up! Thank you for the recommendation.
Hi Bron,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely pic of you all, and a terrific blog. Sadly I don't have sisters but yes, I love reading about them. Family bonds are so special, aren't they?
They are, Annie, and sometimes that bond can be of "families" chosen rather than given. As in the best friends or neighbours who grow up as close as sisters and form that same bond.
DeleteBron, I love that photo of you all! I have two sisters, and we get together a few times a year with mum, much like you do. But we also see each other in little groupings of two and three much more often.
ReplyDeleteI didn't always appreciate them when I was growing up, but now I think having sisters is one of the blessings in my life.
And, yes, I love reading about sisters in books. Some favourites: Jennifer Crusie's Faking It, which has two sisters and a mother living together in a big old boarding house / gallery, plus a teenage niece who is like a younger sister.
The first three books in Jill Shalvis's Lucky Harbor series, which has a book each for three sisters who grew up apart.
Marian Keyes's series about the five Walsh sisters, starting with Watermelon, then Rachel's Holiday (great title for a book, yes?).
The Anne Stuart, Jenny Crusie, Eileen Dreyer book, The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, about three witchy sisters living in a house together.
And, of course, the Bennett sisters in Pride and Prejudice, and the Dashwood sisters in Sense and Sensibility. Probably my favourite sets of sisters in the literary world. (And for dysfunctional sets of sisters, nothing beats Elizabeth, Mary and Anne in Persuasion and the mother's generation in Mansfield Park.)
Looking forward to your current story about sisters!
Oh, Rachel, what a splendid list of "sisters" books! Why didn't I think of my absolute favourite? P&P (of course) but also Jill Shalvis and Marian Keyes' series (which really run the gamut of relationships between sisters, don't they?)
ReplyDeleteI agree: my sisters are also a blessing in my life.
Oh, Bronwyn, you are so lucky. I don't have a sister but have two very special friends who I consider to be my sisters. We connect so well, and are always there for each other, no matter what.
ReplyDeleteA great read is Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah. This story shows how far sisters will go for each other.
And sisters they shall be!
DeleteI've read the Kristin Hannah (quite a few years ago) but can't recall the story . Might be time for a re-read!
Oh, I love my sister to death -- would be lost without her. Mind you, this year she's had the gall to move 7 hours away (where once she was only 5 mins away). But we chat madly on the phone all the time -- and are planning marathon shopping trips for when she's back in January. :-) Like you, Bron, I think there will be sister-trips in our futures.
ReplyDeleteThe first sisters book I thought of was Little Women. Loved that series when I was younger...and still do. And Fiona Harper has a single title just out called Make My Wish Come True, which is about sisters who swap Christmases. I'm really looking forward to falling into that one sometime over the holiday period.
Seven hours away? The gall! :-) I love that you've planned a shopping marathon. Ap;art from eating and talking, that's the other thing I enjoy with my sisters.
DeleteI can't believe that Little Women hasn't been mentioned until now. Classic. I didn't know that Fiona Harper had a single title out -- I really like her category books so much check that out.
Sounds like a fabulous catch up with your sisters Bronwyn.
ReplyDeleteI don't personally have any sisters, althought I do have one living younger brother and one deceased younger brother.
I definitely love reading about special bonds, both in fiction and non-fiction. I can not think of recently read or favourite book that celebrates the bond of sistership, but I am sure that while I am sleeping tonight a title or several will pop into my mind.
Isn't that the way, Lyn? When you stop trying to think of something, when your brain is at rest, up pops the answer. I'm often known to pop upright in bed and say something random...except not really random because it's the "answer" to a problem I couldn't solve during the day. Or several days ago.
ReplyDelete