Jus ThinKen

Im the oldest of 3 girls. I’m very fortunate to love AND like my sisters. We are big grown now. 2 of us with families of our own. We live in 3 different cities. I’m 5 hours from them most days, but today here are in the 26th floor ocean view still making the choice to spend time together. My middle sister has a bomb ass time share. We take care of each other. If anyone has it we all have it. And we still fuss like the 3 little Woodfolks who lived on Forest Hill Drive in 1999.

I thought everyone with siblings had this kind of relationship with them but talking to people and witnessing people learns you just how fortunate you are. I can confidently say we are the best thing Karen and Anthony ever did. They drilled how we were to be there for each other. I’m the oldest so daddy didn’t play about me being my sisters’ keeper. In Genesis after Cain committed the emphasis first murder. The Creator asked him where his brother was. His cheeky ass gon respond to The Creator with “Am I my Brother’s keeper?” Well my daddy flipped it asking me frequently “Am I my sisters’ keeper?” And I was to respond “Yes, I am.” He asked it so often that eventually he could simply say, “What is the question?” And all three of us would respond with the question and he’d say what’s the answer. And we would answer correctly. If he asked us right now today we would respond like Pavlov’s dogs. We are conditioned to care for each other. Have each others backs.

Mom enforced this differently. We are 3 years a part. Me first, 3 years, then middle girl, 3 years, then the baby. We are just close enough in age to be in high school 2 at a time for a senior and freshman year. Mom saw us entering a shared dating pool and put her foot down that we could NEVER date someone our sister was also interested in. She would not have our bond messed up by some dude. There was one time when my 14 year old sister had a crush on a 19 year old from our church. And he and I briefly dated. But they never could have dated cause of the age difference and I didn’t realize she liked him until we were already a thing. None the less the relationship didn’t last through the summer. We were far better off as friends and he remains a family friend to this day. But I saw the potential mess this could have caused if we were older and agree with mommy. If a guy liked me but my sister liked him it would never be worth it. Fortunately we have far differing taste these and I’m married now.

My husband getting along with my sisters was very important to me. And fortunately I found someone who fits in with my family like he was always there. We are too close of a group for someone not to fit in. I think it would be isolating. We are such a well blended family even if it’s different than how it started. Or different than what I imagined as a child. My middle sister and the man have a special bond they understand each other. And the younger one has called my husband when in trouble and she couldn’t get a hold of me. Them trusting him to keep them safe just as I would means more to me than I could say.

Being a Delta has expanded my sibling circle 100 fold. Line sisters, like my bio sisters, are people I didn’t get to choose but I have been blessed to learn and grow in love with. And the bruhz many of whom tease me and protect me and eat all my food like I assume a bio brother would. Having the foundation of sibling love made that transition easier for me. Similar to how I feel about my sister and brother and law. She’s never had sisters so me and mine are slowly pulling her into our orbit.

Lots of things move around in life. Many things have changed but we still them 3 woodfolk girls! And well, I reckon that’s it.