This knowledge of how well-loved I was (side note: everyone in my family was just as well-loved, but of course I can only give you MY perspective and experiences) resulted largely from being told every single day by my Daddy that I was pretty or beautiful, and that he loved me. Mama told me so, too. Again, every girl should be blessed with such a childhood.
From my older siblings, this knowledge of being loved came in a different form than, "You're beautiful!" and straight up, "I love you"s... it came from experiences, and shared amusement at the most random things. (Now that we're adults, Sister and I often dote on one another's beauty, and I haven't had a phone conversation with either of them in which we didn't say "I love you" since 1999.) It's these things, and these memories of hilarity and inside jokes that have always made me feel like my brother and sister have always been two of my best friends and greatest allies. I could write an entire book on each of them and the mushy, wonderful, sappy things that make them awesome older siblings, but let's face it... the funny stories are more fun to read. :)
One Favorite Story About Sister
When I was in high school, there arose an occasion when I drove to Monroe to pick up my childhood BFF, Ashley, and Sister (her name is Jennie, but I mostly just call her Sister) volunteered to ride with me. On our way home, for some strange reason, we decided that it would be fun to own a pet cow. Now, we were from agricultural families, but we'd never actually owned livestock, so this was a fascinating topic for us. We proceeded to decide what we would name our new pet cow that we were going to beg Daddy to go buy when we got home that day. It started out simple with us naming cows that we knew of. Ashley had raised a lamb named Ernie, so we discussed giving our cow a people name. George, Walter, and Arthur were all thrown out as suggestions. We naturally found this to be an amusing way to pass the miles.
Then I remembered that my first boyfriend's family had a cow named Sugar. We thought this was cute, so we started thinking about food names for our imaginary pet cow. We went the dairy route at first. Cookies n Cream was suggested if we got a black and white cow; Chocolate Milk was suggested if we procured a brown one. Our giggles grew more hearty at the thought of naming her Cool Whip. Then Sister upped the stakes... by suggesting that we name our new domestic family member Steak. Well naturally, Ashley and I lost it. This was the funniest possibility yet. Sister then ran through a list of progressively funnier suggestions, including Sir Loin, T-Bone, and Chuck R. McNeill (the R, of course, standing for Roast). At this point, I was crying because I was laughing so hard. I nearly had to pull the car over at the apex of the hilarity: we decided we were to name the cow Spare Ribs, and her future calf would be named Half-Rack.
A New Favorite Story About Brother
When I began this blog entry, I just wanted to illustrate the fact that Brother, Sister, and I are Kindred Spirits, but I'm accidentally also illustrating our bizarre fixation on cows, for Brother's story is something that took place today, and it, too, has to do with cows. I blame Mother. She loved cows, and the small, cozy house in which we spent the bulk of our early childhoods had a kitchen that was decked out in everything cow. She still has the black and white cow-spotted tea kettle. I should also blame Daddy. Any time we drove by a field of cows, he would honk and wave, then look at us incredulously if we didn't join him in greeting the bovines. Gotta love growing up in the country (that was said sincerely, not facetiously). :-)
SO, this story about Brother can best be illustrated by simply relating the text conversation we had this evening.
Jay: July 8th is cow appreciation day at Chick-fil-A.... Dress like a cow, and get a free entree (partial costume)... Full costume (head to hoof) get a full meal for free.
Katie: Bah haha! Love it. Please tell me you're going to do it.
Jay: Hell yeah I'm doing it
Katie: Yes!!! Pictures are a must! :)
Jay: No prob.... U should grab some friends and do it
Katie: Haha, yeah. I think I might visit Holly that day. We'll just take their dairy cow in. :-D
Jay: U could dress the cow as a cow
Katie: Ah hahahaha! I nearly choked on my latte just now!
Jay: LMAO!
Katie: BAAAAHHHH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!
Friends, I looked like a fool a few minutes ago.... sitting in Barnes & Noble, choking on my latte because I was stupid enough to take a drink of it when I read a text message from Brother. I should know better by now.
There are so many more reasons why Jay & Jennie are the greatest older siblings on the face of the planet, but this is just a short commentary on one isolated reason that I thank God when I think of them: they're freakin' hilarious.
KMc 6/23/11
