Timeline 14:22h Thursday August 16 2018.
I’ve been thinking about my little sister today. Three episodes, memories, keep coming up:
We used to play this game, at my instigation I’m sure:
We had a hallway in our house growing up. It was probably 10 to 12 ft long; felt like 50 yards back then.
I was 10-ish; therefore she was about 5. I’d get on my knees and she had to charge from the other end of the hallway and get by me. I called it “goal-line stand”. I’d mash her into the walls and carpet, drive her backwards and down into the ground (fret not, I lined the hall and "end zone" with the couch cushions and pillows; I wasn't sadistic. I just loved football). She’d cry every so often, but not much. I’d let her “score” once every five tries so she’d keep playing. And she did. She’d run full bore down that hall right at me every time.
The other “game” we played, same hallway, same instigator, was “Vikings”. I’d roll up two magazines tight. These were our ‘swords’. (Life Magazine worked best ‘cause it was an oversized mag.). We’d use our bed-pillows as ‘shields’. Then we’d whack the hell out of each other. Guess who usually prevailed. Nevertheless, she always played the game....
The third memory is shortly after my knee surgery, 1982. Mid-June. I remember I was seated on a lounge chair, cast-leg up. Front row.
She played on this amazing Panas softball team. Cathy Sarno. Sharon Haviland. Carol Elser. Sheila Littleton. Kris Fleitz. Cindy Soronen. So many good athletes. They won Section One that year. My sister was the catcher. It was a tight game, a great game really, late Sectionals, and there was this play at the plate, late in the game. The throw was off, and my Sis dove flat out for the ball, then immediately dove straight back flat out to home plate to make the tag. “Out!” at the plate, run saved, inning done, (game over actually ‘cause that play broke the other team’s rally, momentum, and will.)
“That’s my little Sister!!!” I yelled, and fell off that damn chair.
The next day the entire sequence, that play at the plate, caught by a Peekskill Evening Star photographer, was on the front page of the Sports Section.
(P.S.: She was voted MVP of that incredible team.)
Happy Birthday Nicole:)
You’re the Best. |
