Sunday, June 24, 2007

The Pink Room

My older sister, by only two years,
and I shared a bedroom, when we were children.
She left when she went to college.
It was the girl's room.
It was painted pink.
It was a tiny bedroom by today's standards.
Just room for a double bed, a double dresser and a small cabinet we called, "the doll cabinet".
My sister and I played many games in our pink room.
We would lay on our bed and look up at the ceiling fixture and pretend.
That fixture is now in my home office as is the doll cabinet.

When we would tire of our ceiling fixture we would go to our brother's room,
the boy's room.
We laid on their bed and traveled to far away places.
That fixture is in my guest room, the travel room.
Dragonfly Suites for when our daughter comes for a visit.

We laid on the floor in the living room and looked at the ceiling.
The crystal drops would send rainbows dancing around the room.
My sister and I would delight in the fairies.
That fixture is in my bedroom now.
On June 24, 2000, at age 49, my sister died of breast cancer.
She had battled for ten years.
She lived in California.
I was bringing my Mother to see her.
She died while we were flying over.

I admired my older sister.
She was smart and beautiful.
I miss her very much.

12 comments:

Deb said...

Dear Q
What wonderful memories you have of your childhood with your brother & sister. I love your ceiling fixture and description of the 'rainbows dancing around the room'. Like you, I also lost my sister. She was also 49 & had battled cancer for 10 years.
Your post was a loving, touching tribute. Thank you.

Q said...

Dear Deb,
Hugs! I know the feelings so very well.
We are connected in many ways.
Blessings as we remember our sisters.
~Q~

Sprite said...

*****

Dearest Q~

Looking up into the light, and remembering the bittersweet memories about your childhood with your sister is so precious.

The games, the doll cabinet, and pretending; as well as traveling to other lands, and the rainbow crystal light –all hold extraordinary memories within the heart and soul.

Those memories we hold dear are such wondrous treasures.

Thank you so much for revealing some of your treasures today.

I’m sorry you lost your sister so young. I am holding you close with a hug, and sending you all the love from my heart as your sister would now.

It gives one a pause, to think about just how precious and fragile life is, and family. Thank you for this very open hearted sharing.

Much love,

*Sprite

Sheila said...

I'm saddened to know that your sister lost her battle and died so young. That you have happy memories and items from your family home to remind you of the fun you had together is lovely.
Thinking of you..
hugs
xx

Jayne said...

It's so wonderful you have such sweet memories of her Sherry.

Q said...

Dear Sprite,
Life is fragile.
We never know when our threads will be cut. I do think it is very important for those left behind that we always remember to say kind words. I never want to leave someone without saying my thanks yous and my loves.
I share my tribute days as they are part of who I am.
Thank you for your hugs, your thank yous and your love.
Here I have a family of dear hearts. Here we have a sisterhood of kind and gentle spirits.
Fairy lights and dew drops,
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Sheila,
My sister fought the good fight. She was a shooting star; so very bright! I am glad I posted and that Deb also shared her loss. Somehow in the sharing the missing is lessened. Thank you for your compassion. As I have gotten older I have learned much about love and loss.
My Mother asked me to take the chandeliers when I took apart the family home for her. I had exchanged the ceiling lens years ago when my kids were little. My brothers were not interested in the Pirates Map and I thought it would be nice for our son's room.
I saved as much as I could from my childhood home and made sure my siblings also had treasures of their hearts. It took me 6 months to empty my parents house. I wish there had been more time!
I have all sorts of strange things from my childhood. Little pieces from that life. There were happy times and there were sad times; just a regular sort of life.
Thank you,
Hugs,
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Jayne,
I do have fun memories of my sister. We were close in age but very different personalities!
It has been seven years yet still sometimes I forget and want to call her and tell her some silly thing!
I sit outside at night sometimes and look at the stars and think of her.
Sherry

smilnsigh said...

Beautiful memories. And beautiful things you still have.

Sad memory of your sister. -sigh- No not not a sad memory. Sad that she has passed on.

Someone close to me is battling this, now. I hope for a better outcome. But then, we always do, don't we? And for now, I will expect it to be thus. What else can we do? :-)


Mari-Nanci

Q said...

Dear Mari-Nanci,
I will keep your friend in my blessings. We do keep a postive thought as our "sisters" battle.
The body is very powerful. My best friend had breast cancer many years ago and is cancer free today.
Hugs,
Sherry

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry about your sister. Your tribute to her is beautiful.

Susie

Q said...

Dear Susie,
Thank you. Last year I did a remembrance of when she traveled to Demark and sent me a post card of the Little Mermaid in the Copenhagen harbor. I have that post card on my mantle and I remember her as a grown woman and my friend.
Sherry