Living with my sister-- the story of our life.

My sister and I come from a big family. There's always noise and chaos. Disagreements and fights were the norm. We practically grew up together. The only time we were apart was when I moved to another city to go to  school. And when she moved to Canada. As luck would have it, four years later, I followed her. I like to think that we're meant to be together in a strange and foreign country. At first, we lived in different places  and only get to hang out during our days off. Back then, we always had this plan to get our own place and live together.

"It's hard to be responsible, adult and sensible all the time. How good it is to have a sister  whose heart is as young as your own." - Pam Brown

Since I moved in with my sister, I have been relegated to certain chores. Of course, we don't need to put it down on paper because we're adults now. I mean, how hard that can be. I am assigned to take out the garbage every week, which I do diligently. The only time my sister has to do it is when I'm not around. I'm responsible for cleaning up after her when she  makes a mess in the kitchen while she cooks. Frankly, I don't mind doing the dishes because I like to do it. Besides, I can't stand dirty stuff left on the kitchen sink for too long. The only downside to this is I get "obsessed" ( as she calls it ) with cleaning up after her, that one time, while she was busy cooking something, I washed a spoon or a dish, only to realized that she still has to used it. She was annoyed and told me to go sit on the couch and watched TV. Like I was an errant child.

My sister and I are opposites. I think it's one of the reasons we get along fine.

I learned how to use a hammer and a screwdriver, not that they're hard to learn. Over the course of a few months, I managed to assemble our tiny dining set ( you know, table and chairs ) and a TV stand, while my sister stood by and gave me directions, from time to time. It took a lot of effort and patience on my part to read the diagram on the small piece of paper that came with all the parts. I blurted a few expletives when I screwed a part the wrong way and had to take them apart again. Fortunately, our friend, Rhea was there to help. If it was just me and my sister, we probably end up punching each other. But I have to say this,  I was quite happy with myself, when I looked at the assembled TV stand and dining set.

"Of two sisters one is always the watcher, one the dancer." - Louise Gluck

We make compromises when we decided to live together. We don't always agree on things. I make it a point to go to bed early especially if I have to work the next day, while my sister on the other hand, like to stay up late, even if she has to get up early the next day. I'm a morning person. I love to get up when its still dark outside ( especially if I don't have to go to work ) and sit in my corner, with a book and coffee. This does not escape my sister's attention and she told me more than once that I'm insane.

My sister and I are different as night and day. She is sophisticated and fashionable dressed, most of the time, while I on the other hand, is the exact opposite. We don't have the perfect relationship. We both have shortcomings and make mistakes. We argue sometimes, about anything---from her taking too long to put on make-up to my unusual ( according to her ) rule of being at work half an hour early. I'm sure she gets angry at me, as I do with her. But the thing is, we don't hold a grudge. And most of the time, we just laugh off at anything, that may have previously annoy us.

Living with my sister may have its ups and downs. But so far, so good. :-)

Hey, brother and sister.

"I don't believe an accident of birth makes people sisters or brothers. It makes them siblings, gives them mutuality of parentage. Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition people have to work at." - Maya Angelou

There was a time, especially during high school, when I used to be embarrassed whenever someone asked me questions like, "How many are you in the family?' or "How many brothers and sisters do you have?' I was like, not again. Now, when someone ask me these same questions, my reply to the first would be a brief "Nine." and the latter would take a considerable time while I do the math then I'd say, "I have six sisters and two brothers. And I'm the eldest." Both of my answers would be met with surprise or a "Wow" reaction. And I'm like, yes, tell me about it.

I still can't figure out how my mother ever managed to have nine kids. While growing up, I remembered her being pregnant, then she'd be gone for a few days and when she came back home, she'd have a baby in her arms. I have never seen her in labor or wailing and mouthing off expletives ( just like shown in the movies or TV shows ) because she was in pain. When I was old enough to know what was going on, the arrival of a new baby, like every couple of years or so, has lost its appeal. I started to ask questions and resented the fact that our family kept growing. Of course, my questions were ignored. I heard talks that my parents wanted to have a son, so that was it. True enough, after seven daughters, my two brothers arrived and that's how we get to be nine.

"Our siblings push buttons that cast us in roles we felt sure we had let go of long ago — the baby, the peacekeeper, the caretaker, the avoider.... It doesn’t seem to matter how much time has elapsed or how far we’ve traveled." - Jane Mersky Leder

Once, someone told me that it must be fun to be in a big family. I thought about that remark for a long time. I think it depends on how you define "fun".  It was never fun for me, at least back then. Everything has to be shared equally and to the last bit or else there'd be "war". My mother has become adept at making sure that food was divided in equal portions,  among us kids. I remembered a particular incident, when she had to forgo her share because one of my younger sister or brother ( I can't remember anymore ) wanted more of something. As I watched her silently, I realized then, that she's not just some woman who had babies all the time. She's our "Nanay" and will always be.

I grew up knowing that I have to keep myself in line and have to set a good example for my younger siblings. My parents didn't have to talk to me about this but it was assumed and I figured that since I'm the eldest, it is expected of me. There were times that I wish I have an older brother or sister. And even now, I still think how nice it would be to have an older sibling.  Wishful thinking, I suppose.

"Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring — quite often the hard way."- Pamela Dugdale

One day, my brother and I had the chance to chat on Facebook and after the usual exchange of Hi's and How are you's, we get to talk about things, way back when he was younger. He reminded me how ill-tempered I was and how scared they were when I get angry. And I thought to myself, he remembers.  One time when I found out that my mother was pregnant for the eighth time, I gave her the cold shoulder. I didn't talk to her for a few days but I also looked up baby boy names, secretly. I wasn't sure if it was just pure coincidence, my mother gave birth to a baby boy. They were all happy. I was happy. A few years after that, another baby boy arrived. For some reason, I doted on my younger brothers. When I was away at school, I used to save part of my allowance so I could buy presents for them when I come home for a visit. Too bad they both didn't get to spend a lot of time with our father because he passed away too soon.

"Our siblings. They resemble us just enough to make all their differences confusing, and no matter what we choose to make of this, we are cast in relation to them our whole lives long." - Susan Scarf Merrell

I don't see my younger siblings as often now since I moved away from home. We don't talk much. They're miles away, they may as well be in a different world. But whenever we do get to talk, I am transported back in time and sometimes, it feels like I've never left.

One day, while I watched the movie "Cheaper by the Dozen", I thought about my brothers and sisters and was inspired to write. Hence, this post. I guess the movie reminded me of them, who knows.

2012 happenings...

"Hope
Smiles from the threshold of the year to come, 
whispering it will be happier..." 

- Alfred Lord Tennyson

With another year coming up for grabs, I think that it's only fitting to reflect on what went on in 2012. And perhaps, I can learn a thing or two from it.

As you know, I live a pretty much laid-back and ordinary life. No late-night outs and hangovers. No hang-outs with so-called friends. No dates or whatsoever. Nothing much is going on in my world. My sister always point it to me that, I'm already living the life of someone more than twice my age or  just about.

I have no complains though. I'm happy and thankful  where I'm at right now. I'm sure I did quite a few things this past year---fun things, I say. So if you're up to it, read on....

Ran in my "first" marathon. I put emphasis on the word 'first' because I think about doing another one. Go figures. :-)

I love the letter "N". After countless hours spent on the road,"driving" and two failed road tests, I finally got this. 

My sister and I dressed up for Halloween!!!

Helped decorate my first "real" Christmas tree. 

Christmas morning. I'm glad I made it to Santa's "Nice" list. :-)

White Christmas and we made a snowman too. :-)

Goodies galore. And I'm just talking about desserts here. Sometimes, I think I'm like the birds, fattening up for winter. But I'm not complaining.:-)

Get to met new friends. :-)

Then, there's my birthday. And other things I'm grateful for every day. :-)

"For last year's words belong to last year's language

And next year's words await another voice.

And to make an end is to make a beginning."

-T. S. Eliot

Sisters-in-arms ( anything could happen )

"A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves." - Toni Morrison

I've been asked more than a few times if I like being in Canada. And I always say, "Yes, I like being here." Living in a foreign country and being away from home is not so bad because my sister is here, even if we don't get to see each other and hang out often. I know, I'd be singing a different tune if I'm the only one here. My sister helps keep homesickness at bay.

I decided to come up with this post because our birthdays are coming up and I thought I'd write something about our relationship. So far, it's working. My sister and I get along fine, perhaps more so, because we only see each other like, once or twice a month. So whatever time we have, is maximize and full of laughter and fun. I once told her that I only get to laugh ( the LOL kind ) when I'm with her.

"A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost." - Marion C. Garretty

I'm thankful my sister is here. Between the two of us, we always find ways to have fun and enjoy each other's company. I'm not saying we never have arguments or something but we try not to have them. The little time we have is far better spend on having a grand "adventure". Besides, getting older, makes us more forgiving and accommodating to each other's shortcomings. Of course, I still complain ( sometimes ) when she takes her sweet time to put on make up or  decides what dress to wear. In the same way, she comments on the way I dress or my "old lady" shoes. But the best part is, she spoils me ( take note, sister, I still pine for the Nikon SLR ) and cooks me Filipino food, whenever I ask here.

So, here's to you, my "always fashionably dressed" sister, Happy, Happy Birthday!!!

"Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other."- Carol Saline

Things that make me go "Hmmm...life is good."

I was inspired to come up with this post from something I read in the paper. ( Well, it was actually from Wonderword.) I remember someone telling me, that when you get older, you start to notice the simple and ordinary things around you. I found that to be true.

It occurs to me, how sometimes, life unfolds in ways I don't expect. Whenever I think, everything is going smoothly, somehow, something always goes wrong. Plans don't turn out the way I want them to be. Being away from home have taught me a few things about how to go about life. I'm now more appreciative about what each new day is presented to me, no matter what the circumstances are.

I just love to watch this every morning, while I do the crossword and enjoy my coffee. Life is....:-)

 I decided I'd make a list of things that reminds life will always be worth it. And thought I'd share them with you. ( That is, if you even read my blog. )

• The smell of coffee and coffee itself. 
• The delicious aroma that wafts around the house when something is baking in the oven or cooking on the stove. ( And just to let you know, I'm not doing the cooking.)
• Running 
• The clear, blue sky
• Talk to my sister in our dialect.

Hanging out with my sister is always fun. ( No matter how short the time is. )

• Music
• Whenever I figure out a word in the crossword puzzle 
• A good book
• Cup of tea
• Driving the truck with the music on.
• The warmth and comfort of my bed.
• The feeling of "I just died and gone to heaven..." ( this usually happens whenever I'm served with a delicious meal, which is quite often )

I "love" coffee. Let me not count the ways.

• My phone calls to my folks back home.
• The early morning, particularly that part, when the sun rises and treetops are dappled with sunlight.
• Where I'm at now, I'm fortunate to be with people who are nice to me and treat me as part of their family.

So, there goes my list. It's not much, I know. But in some ways, they make me happy....:-)

A tale of two sisters

Sister and I

I come from a big family. I have six younger sisters and two younger brothers. You do the math. Growing up, I never really thought about them much except that they were a bunch of kids I had to put up with, look after and get along. Aside from that tiny detail about having the same last name and coming from the same set of parents, we are different.

I can't say I have a favorite sibling or doted one more than the other. Of course, after having witnessed one sister arrived after another, every couple of years or so, the birth of my two younger brothers were more than welcome. And I even get to named the youngest one.

With my number one support crew (?)

But what I'm going to tell you is not about all of my younger siblings. It's about me and this particular sister of mine. She's not my favorite or anything. It's just that we get along well that even if we're extremely opposite from each other, we still get to have fun.

Our grandmother doted on both of us, so that's something we sometimes talk about and reminisce the good memories we had with our cool granny. My sister and I  never had a huge fight well, except for that time when I was so angry at her that I threw all her stuff out from our room. Oh, and there was another time too, when we both got into a heated argument that we ended up hitting each other. But the next day, all was okay again. And we talked and laughed like nothing happened.

We plan our days together in a way that  we'd make the most of our time. Well, it's really me that's always saying this "Hurry up, sister!"

I really have no clear memories of my sister and I growing up together since I'm just three years older than her. We all have weathered various trying times in our life. Deaths of our beloved grandmother and father. Then the births of our nieces and nephews.

When she left for Canada, five years ago, something was amiss in our family. Still, life goes on, my sister embraced the role of a breadwinner, albeit reluctantly. And somehow, I also miss her company. Four years later, I followed her.

To start off 2012.

Looking back, I realized that we're meant to be together. Although, we don't get to see each other often, we always have loads of fun when we hang out. Tiya told me once that, it was meant to be, so we can have each other to lean on, especially on crappy times.

I'm sure that we get along fine not only because we are sisters. I guess it will be boring and not much fun if we have the same likes. Though it would have been  nice if  she also like running but I don't begrudge her that.

Yes, we are.

When I badly needed a good laugh, I go and see her. And not because she's funny-looking or something. It's just that when I'm around my sister, even the simplest thing or occurrence can be a source of fun. Whenever we hang out, we manage to talk and laugh just about anything. Then before we know it, it's time for me to go.

I don't think about how it would have been different if my sister is not here. I'm glad that she is. One day, I complained about how we're working hard and don't have the time to enjoy it. She simply said, "Let's make the time." 

Good call, sister. :-)