I realized the other day that certain things in your life happen that make you stop and think "wow, I actually am getting older!".
There was an open house at the Maplewood Clinic last Thursday. This is a clinic that I worked at for 8 years as a Certified Medical Assistant. I spent the last 6 of those years in a leadership position. In the 8 years that I worked in the clinic, we were told that we would be getting a new building 3 seperate times and it never happened. Our old office space was old and we were running out of space. I left the clinic in November of 2005 and the new building was being built (and designed by me) up until the day I left. July 2006 the new clinic opened its doors. It is beautiful!
My sister, Kim, worked at the clinic during the summer and winter breaks. It was fun to work with her when I was still there and it is nice to have her working there no that I am gone so that I can still 'keep in the loop' with everything that is happening there. It helped me to feel that I left a part of me back at the clinic.
Last Thursday, I walked into the front door of the clinic. I was greeted by tons of balloons and old familiar faces. I had such a rush of emotions come over me....I felt sad, nervous, happy, excited, overwhelmed.
I saw my sister Kim and she informed me that she signed herself up to give tours to the public during the open house. WHAT?! My sister Kim, giving tours to strangers!?
This is the same sister Kim who would not even order her own food at McDonald's---giving guided tours.
I felt so proud of her at that moment. I really realized then that she had grown up. I knew that it had happened...I have seen it before but to experience it first hand.
I was speechless.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Spell check anyone?
I am sorry about the errors in my past blogs. I will try to remember to use spell check. :-)
My sister Kari
There is something about having a big sister that is hard to explain. You big sis will teach you things as you grow up and I have to admit, sitting here at 30 years old, I thought I was pretty much done with learning from her. Once again, I am wrong.
My sister has taught me how to take a chance. How to live your life to accomplish what you want, not what someone else had in store for you. In 1995 my sister was married to her 'foreign-exchange student boyfriend from highschool'. This is how we described how my sister ended up calling Quito, Ecuador her home. Kari and Andres moved to Ecuador where they have since bought a house and started a beautiful family.
I will be honest, when she first moved I felt abandoned. How could my sister leave me? Didn't she know that she was leaving us? Didn't she know that she was going to miss everything? What was she doing? Over the years, I have not written. I have not called. I have not emailed her. I have only visited her twice. (What kind of sister am I?)
Andres is an amazing person. He is brillant, funny, kind, has an incredible ability to share information and to keep you interested in learning from him, he is a father, friend, son, brother, and husband. My brother-in-law is the best that I could ask for. He has taken care of my sister and has taught her so much about life. He has inspired her to do things that she was always capable of doing, but he gave her a reason. I love him for that. I love him not only for who he is but for who he has made my sister become. How he has supported her.
Now that I am married I understand how you could leave your family, the family you knew for 18 years to start one of your own. Your husband becomes your family, your children make your house a home. Your mother, father, sisters, grandparents, etc...this famiy is important in your life. They will always be there. They will always love you but they judge your actions. It is not fair of them to 'clip your wings' so that they can keep you close by. It is too bad that those in life who love you most have no way of showing it.
My sister Kari is a teacher, a writer, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a granddaughter, a sister. I love reading my sisters emails and blogs. She has a way of writing that makes me feel that I am in the story with her. I can read her expression and her feelings. I can see the expressions on her face. I can imagine the points in the story when her hand itches her nose and then she adjusts her glasses. The way her eyes get huge when she is telling you something scandalous.
She loves secrets and even though I am sure that it hurts, she loves to hear about what is happening 'back home'. What is the weather like, what did you do this weekend? What have you bought recently? All of these little pleasures in life that we take for granted are the very things that she will return home for.
It is easy for all of us to think that Kari is missing out, not being 'home'. What I realize is that we are missing out. I have two nephews that don't even know me. I have a brother-in-law that I don't get to spend time with. I have not seen my sister's new home or furniture. I haven't babysat my nephews.
My sister has taught me to take chances. Do something that you want to do. Get married and move to Ecuador--how brave my sister is.
I am also a big sister. I hope that I am a good one. Since my sister Kari has been out of the country, I have assumed the role as the 'second in charge'. Our parents seperated and later divorced and I felt as though I needed to hold everyone together. Keep everyone on good terms. On holidays, I try to assure that my little sisters are buying gifts and that they have what they need to contribute to the festivities. When there is a family outing, I am 'in charge' of organizing everyone together. I especially miss Kari in these moments.
My sister has taught me a lot about life and about who I am. I am envious of her and I am glad that she is who she is.
I have not done the best job of keeping in touch with my big sis but I hope that I can get better at it. I miss her everyday.
My sister has taught me how to take a chance. How to live your life to accomplish what you want, not what someone else had in store for you. In 1995 my sister was married to her 'foreign-exchange student boyfriend from highschool'. This is how we described how my sister ended up calling Quito, Ecuador her home. Kari and Andres moved to Ecuador where they have since bought a house and started a beautiful family.
I will be honest, when she first moved I felt abandoned. How could my sister leave me? Didn't she know that she was leaving us? Didn't she know that she was going to miss everything? What was she doing? Over the years, I have not written. I have not called. I have not emailed her. I have only visited her twice. (What kind of sister am I?)
Andres is an amazing person. He is brillant, funny, kind, has an incredible ability to share information and to keep you interested in learning from him, he is a father, friend, son, brother, and husband. My brother-in-law is the best that I could ask for. He has taken care of my sister and has taught her so much about life. He has inspired her to do things that she was always capable of doing, but he gave her a reason. I love him for that. I love him not only for who he is but for who he has made my sister become. How he has supported her.
Now that I am married I understand how you could leave your family, the family you knew for 18 years to start one of your own. Your husband becomes your family, your children make your house a home. Your mother, father, sisters, grandparents, etc...this famiy is important in your life. They will always be there. They will always love you but they judge your actions. It is not fair of them to 'clip your wings' so that they can keep you close by. It is too bad that those in life who love you most have no way of showing it.
My sister Kari is a teacher, a writer, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a granddaughter, a sister. I love reading my sisters emails and blogs. She has a way of writing that makes me feel that I am in the story with her. I can read her expression and her feelings. I can see the expressions on her face. I can imagine the points in the story when her hand itches her nose and then she adjusts her glasses. The way her eyes get huge when she is telling you something scandalous.
She loves secrets and even though I am sure that it hurts, she loves to hear about what is happening 'back home'. What is the weather like, what did you do this weekend? What have you bought recently? All of these little pleasures in life that we take for granted are the very things that she will return home for.
It is easy for all of us to think that Kari is missing out, not being 'home'. What I realize is that we are missing out. I have two nephews that don't even know me. I have a brother-in-law that I don't get to spend time with. I have not seen my sister's new home or furniture. I haven't babysat my nephews.
My sister has taught me to take chances. Do something that you want to do. Get married and move to Ecuador--how brave my sister is.
I am also a big sister. I hope that I am a good one. Since my sister Kari has been out of the country, I have assumed the role as the 'second in charge'. Our parents seperated and later divorced and I felt as though I needed to hold everyone together. Keep everyone on good terms. On holidays, I try to assure that my little sisters are buying gifts and that they have what they need to contribute to the festivities. When there is a family outing, I am 'in charge' of organizing everyone together. I especially miss Kari in these moments.
My sister has taught me a lot about life and about who I am. I am envious of her and I am glad that she is who she is.
I have not done the best job of keeping in touch with my big sis but I hope that I can get better at it. I miss her everyday.
Two down, 4 to go
Today I finished The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Packard
This book came as a recommendation from my sister, Kari.
It was a very easy read. The chapters were short so I was able to feel that I was accomplishing something as I was reading. The story was interesting. A woman named Lexy dies and the only witness of her death is her dog, Lorelei. Her husband, Paul, spends a year trying to reveal the cause of his wife's death. He was convinced that he could teach his dog to talk, in hopes to find answers. The book travels through time as you learn of their lives together, the success and failure of trying to teach a dog to talk, and what really happened in Lexy's death.
During the book, I found myself having trouble putting it down and when I was near the last few chapters, I actually sat at work trying to figure the mystery out. (What is happening to me?)
In the end, I was left happy and disappointed. The mystery was revealed but the ending left me wanting more. I gues that that is the sign of a good book, but I felt disappointed in the way the story ended. Even though I felt disappointed, I still find myself loving this book.
I would recommend this to anyone!
4 of 5 stars
This book came as a recommendation from my sister, Kari.
It was a very easy read. The chapters were short so I was able to feel that I was accomplishing something as I was reading. The story was interesting. A woman named Lexy dies and the only witness of her death is her dog, Lorelei. Her husband, Paul, spends a year trying to reveal the cause of his wife's death. He was convinced that he could teach his dog to talk, in hopes to find answers. The book travels through time as you learn of their lives together, the success and failure of trying to teach a dog to talk, and what really happened in Lexy's death.
During the book, I found myself having trouble putting it down and when I was near the last few chapters, I actually sat at work trying to figure the mystery out. (What is happening to me?)
In the end, I was left happy and disappointed. The mystery was revealed but the ending left me wanting more. I gues that that is the sign of a good book, but I felt disappointed in the way the story ended. Even though I felt disappointed, I still find myself loving this book.
I would recommend this to anyone!
4 of 5 stars
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