I seem to have reached the "Life in Review" stage. We all have strengths and weaknesses. As a kid, I believed my strengths were not up to family standards. On the other hand I understand the times and expectations regarding my life and family and realized my views were skewed.
My folks each had an 8th grade education. It was their goal to see their girls went way beyond that point. My older sister was the bookworm. When it came to anything regarding school she was brilliant. She was always at the top of the class, skipped a grade and was deluged with glory from teachers. My parents were quite puffed up over her scholarly achievements. I did well enough in school, but I had better things to do than study. I was sort of a hell-bent athlete which was a skill set not encouraged for girls during the 50's. My folks cheered me on at meets but I always believed they would be happier with another scholar. Eventually, the athletics were left behind because that's what was expected.
I attended a business school after high school and embarked on a successful career. During the early '70's many businesses encouraged recreational sports among employees. I participated in most of them. I was respected for my athletic prowess as well as recognized in that venue for having leadership qualities. Athletic ability actually accelerated my progress in the business world. It was a surprise and an awakening. My abilities were different than my sister's but not less important. The wasted years of feeling second best melted away.
I stopped blaming my sister for being smarter than me. I came to depend on it. She was a fount of useful (and not so useful) knowledge. She had the capacity to read a Federal Tax Manual cover to cover, understand and retain, and use the information contained therein. I'd rather face a firing squad. She was able to teach my kids the kind of laser focus which achieved academic success and I was able to teach her kids to run at maximum speed, hit a ball. ski and roller skate. She would have rather had a root canal.
My sister was 11 years my senior. Because of the age difference, it took us a while to find our footing, but when we did we were inseparable. I had the honor of being the baby sister to my big sister. She was serious, I was the clown. She was super-smart, I had common sense. She was the thinker, I was the action taker. She was the wind beneath my wings and in exchange I taught her to fly. She used that knowledge to fly home five years ago. Today is one of the bad days. Thanks for listening.
