Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Twenty-four hours of transit, two planes, a train and a truck took me to her home in Kansas; I'd hardly call that next door. And yet, there is an unmistakable familiarity in the feel of her arms around me, her squeal as I lug my bags up the steep stairway, the oval frame that hangs in the doorway, the candle that always burns.



Tell me, can you build a plane that goes faster? An iphone app that makes it possible to step through the hedge fence to her kitchen for coffee?

We sit and consider sisters who live in the same town, attend the same church, shop together at the massive, overwhelming Target Superstore ... and sigh. This one week will have to do - seven days in which to pack a year full of normal life.

I packed two extra boxes coming back, full of baking goods and bits of home, but my niece articulated what I could not:

Would you like anything from Kansas? I asked.

"Just bring Aunt Linda."

But you know, she wouldn't fit.

19 comments:

Evi said...

Hi friend! Welcome back! Pour l'avion plus rapide, je crois que ce sera pour bientôt. Mais pour tout le reste, ce sera déjà plus difficile. Il y a tout de même skype qui rapproche passablement. J'espère que tu as emporté une écharpe ou un t-shirt de ta soeur ou une petite mèche de cheveux. Je te verrai au prochain culte avec un petit panier à côté de toi sur la banc : "non, ici c'est Linda"! Cette place n'est pas libre! :D
Moi je m'assiérai de l'autre côté et je mettrai mon bras sur le tien. Ensuite tu fermeras les yeux et nous demanderons à Uli ou Peter de prêcher en english! Tu vois que je suis prête à t'aider.!
Mais d'abord, nous fêterons Thanksgiving. Nous nous réjouissons beaucoup !
Love! Evi

MarmePurl said...

Welcome back. I have missed your beautiful words.
And these go straight to the heart.

penny said...

Hi Friend, welcome back.. even though a part of you would rather remain in Kansas with you sister, Linda- I am thrilled to see your lovely long hair draped over your handmade sweater again.
My Sister and I are like two peas in a pod and we both know how lucky we are to have one another so close.

Hugs,
Pam i still am :)

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

It's so nice to see your post pop up. Sisters are a treasure and I don't know what I would do without mine. Glad you had a wonderful time.

Ola said...

nice to see you again!
I think technology is still developing, maybe someday it will be possible what you wrote!:) I guess it is even now already much easier to stay in touch than let's say before the era of Internet and mobile but nothing can substitute being just together!

Dawn said...

Oh WELCOME BACK! I have been missing you....although- if it were me...I would have tried to stay away forever:( My sister is just about to up and move away and I feel like my world is crashing...
So glad you got 7 days- but with sisters, that is a mere drop in the bucket.
hugs
xx

Judy said...

Welcome Back!!!! I'm glad you had a wonderful time and I'm sorry it was so short. I talk to my sister everyday and have for years. I wish Linda could have fit.

Ben said...

It is always great to be home :) to reply your question, yes the orchids are blooming in Malaysia, which is either sunny or rain all year round.

Changes in the wind said...

Ahhh not we know where you went and why....what a special time, wish it could be more often for you.

Cheyenne said...

There is nothing like the bond of sisters...really, nothing I could say could make it any easier. My sister, my heart sister, just had her first baby six weeks early...and I'm oh so sad that I can't just be with her...bring her meals, sit with her and rub her back.

I just try and tell myself it makes our time together that much sweeter.

TexWisGirl said...

i'm glad to hear from you, but sad, too, because that means your precious time with family is over again. i know how much this means to you, dear allison. my heart longs for time with my sister too... :)

Meg said...

You just didn't have a big enough box to fit her! ;) I'm so glad you got to visit with your sister and I hope it cured some of your homesick. But I'm glad you're back now! *hugs*

Nancy said...

So happy you got to spend time with your sister, Allison -- and think how close you were to me for that week. Only a few hundred miles. I like that thought. :)

Out on the prairie said...

It has been lonely without you. Hope you had a good time.

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear from you Allison. And so glad you got to spend time with your sister.

Randy said...

So glad your back. I really hope you enjoyed your time away. Wonderful post by the way.

Debbie said...

Look at your pretty hair! I always wanted your long, blonde hair. I'm glad you had a good trip. Not having a sister of my own only made me want one more. That's where you fit for me.

Love you,
Debbie

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

We all missed your posts, but having the time to spend with your sister, Linda, was priceless as the ad goes. Thanks for sharing, Allison.

Raindrops and Daisies said...

Hi Allison,

Welcome back,
I missed you and your lovely posts.

You are such a lucky woman to have a sister,
I wish I had one, even if she was a plane journey away.

I miss not having a sister as a friend, but alas..........

Take care and settle back home and start posting lots!!!


Fiona x