My Brother and My Sister

As I was growing up, I always wanted a sibling.  An only child gets away with nothing!!  I mean - who can we blame it on - the dog?  I grew up an only child - not knowing that I had a half-brother and half-sister until I was in junior high (that's middle school for you "younger" people).  I didn't even meet them until I was in college. 

I adored my sister, Yvonne.  I wanted so much to have that "sister" relationship with her.  It was not to be.  She was always pleasant to me, always kind, but there was a reserve that I just couldn't break down. Although I was never told and I have never asked, I had the feeling that the breakup of my father's first marriage was not a happy one, and I am sure that they resented my own mother.  That would be very normal.  I think it had a lot to do with the fact that I had Daddy while I was growing up - she didn't.  I think she resented me in a way - and I understand that.  We wrote letters to each other and occasionally we saw each other.  My own mother understood my need and she supported me in my desire to know my siblings, but I also knew it worried her.  After my mother's death, I saw more of my sister and her husband than before.  We would get together with my brother and his wife for dinner and after a bit even exchanged Christmas presents.

When Yvonne died of a cerebral hemmorahge, I was devastated.  I was with her when she died and I hope with all my heart that she knew how much I really loved her and how proud I was to be her sister. 

Now my brother - my hero.  What got us together was a trip to Germany. How about that!

In 1990 my father's family in Germany sent me the money for Ryan and me to visit them.  A wonderful, wonderful woman, Marian  (who became "Grandma" to Ryan) went with us. You'll learn more about Marian later on. It was a wonderful 10 day visit.  I met my cousins, two aunts and got to see where my father had been born and raised.  I loved Germany, but couldn't see us living there permanently.  All my relatives asked about my brother and sister and did I ever see them and talk to them.  I was only too happy to share the information that I had    When I came home I contacted my brother and sister and offered to share the pictures and experience.  My brother and sister in law expressed a lot of interest and I told him he should go over and visitthem too, that they were his family too.  He looks so much like my father and I knew the relatives over there would go crazy over him.

They did visit Germany and after they came back it was like a door had been opened between us - we were, at last, brother and sister, and oh how I love him and my wonderful sister-in-law Jewel.  Ryan has a definate case of hero worship where Leon is concerned.  He can't wait for the times when we meet them for supper.  We talk on the phone and now I can't imagine life without him.  I love him soooo much.  I'm sure I'll think of other things to say about both my brother and sister later on.

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