My sister is a saint. Not technically, but she should be. Not only did she put up with a brat of a sister, nine years her junior (me), but she raised two amazing kids, got her Masters in Education, and then started a charity,.
I hope to achieve half as much as she has when I grow up. Unfortunately, I’ve been resisting that fate forever, and I am way past the age to have adulting down pat.
My sister, the saint, had to put up with a colicky, temperamental infant at a time when her biggest problem was what clothes she wanted to put on her Barbie doll. To make matters worse, we had adjoining rooms. She literally had to pass through mine to get to hers.
Add to that, my mother’s–shall we say Protestant Tiger Mom tendencies?
Plus so many other slights and there is ample reason for my saint of a sibling to absolutely despise and resent me, a lot of it deserved. I was a brat.
But we all grow up, and my sister has always been my first cheerleader, the one who comforted and took care of me when things got rough. She saw me through cancer with a compassion and determination that takes my breath away even now.
She is my rock.
For decades really, I have wanted to do something just for her, to show her, in the smallest of ways, how much she means for me.
She used to love to travel. She’d investigate places, plan vacations, and execute them with travel agent precision. Again, a treasure trove of family lore could drag me down a novel length rabbit hole.
While she was starting a charity- Reading Recycled and taking over the Philly Book Bank-I’ve had the luck and luxury of seeing the world. Yeah, I suck. I know.
So I’ve made it my mission to take her somewhere. Let me tell you, she’s a hard one to pin down. Finally perseverance paid off.
She chose a location. We have the dates. Our flights are booked. Hotels are reserved. She had to renew her passport, which caused a bit of nail-biting when we learned of the back log of approvals. It arrived. We have our vaccinations, and will test before we leave.
It’s happening. Her birthday this year will be celebrated on the island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea. I’ve planned a few surprises as well. Three days in Athens, three more on Santorini, then onto Rhodes. Sightseeing, beaches, and history.
It’s the first time in more than 25 years we’ve gone somewhere just the two of us. What I hope is to take my sister far from her worries and give her a dream vacation. It’s not enough, it could never be enough, but I hope it’s a good start.
Please click the links above to learn more about what my sister has accomplished!!!
Nancie Abuhaidar 