This is Jean, the sister that is the ‘Queen of Reading’. Walls full of books on bookshelves in her home – and she’s read them all. Jean doesn’t just read the light stuff like I do, she’s into all this history, and biographies, autobiographies, and serious stuff. She enlists our sister, Caryl, to purchase on eBay for her – slim pickings in the little town Jean lives in.
This picture was taken last month, we met at this state campground which is half-way between our homes. Jean spent two days with us in our motorhome, and of course, we hit the used book store in the nearest town. T even took us to two other small towns nearby – but no bookstores there.
Jean is the one in the big shades and long sleeves….she’s the little bitty thing and doesn’t ‘do’ sun, is always cold…even when it’s in the 80’s. I’m the one with puppy dog tails….won’t get rid of that hair and can’t stand the heat it builds up on my neck…and I love the sunshine and weather in the 80’s! My ideal home would be somewhere where I could wear flip flops 12 months of the year. And I only wear clothes in hot weather so that I don’t scare people into running blindly down the street and into traffic.
Whenever Jean and I are in the same place, I have trouble remembering my name. She’s the quiet, refined one. Two words that would never be used to describe me. I’m very loud, talk very fast, am sometimes obnoxious, really silly, and right out there with anything I think or feel. Jean’s response (in a flat little, disgusted voice) to almost anything I say or do is, “Jesus, Jackie”. So we all tease about my name being Jesus Jackie – and that I’ll forget that it’s really Jackie Lynn. Once in a while, either Caryl or Terry will slip and say “Jesus, Jackie!” to something I’ve said or done, and it cracks us all up.
Now, usually, Jean and I aren’t this close together in pictures. Or anywhere else. Jean is the undemonstrative member of the family. The rest of us tend to touch a lot. My brother and I still hold hands most of the time when we see each other. Jean’s not a touchy-feely like the rest of us, and I’m pretty sure she thought I was plenty close enough. We’ve teased her so much over the years, about the way she ends phone conversations and letters. We all say to her, “I love you, bye”, and she’ll say, “Okay, then. Bye”. When she writes us letters, she signs them, “As always, Jean”. Sometimes Caryl and I tease her and beg her to say she loves us. She always replies, “If you don’t know how I feel about you by this time, it wouldn’t do any good to tell you”. When we grab her and hug her, she stands ramrod straight. One of her arms hangs straight at her side, and with the other, she gently pats our back twice. And she won’t say those words! But we know she loves us!
Oh, mom, you had to post yerself with the ponytails! Sheesh. I’m so embarrassed **stamps foot** you are ruining my life **dramatically spins on heel and leaves room**
Oh, yeah. I’m over that. Cute pick mom.
Cindra, you always make me laugh! Now is that a description of you when you were young – or my little Sugarplum now? I hope when she has a daughter of her own, who is embarrassed by her, she remembers all these times – like you remember yours! My legacy lives on.
Love you. Missing you a lot today.
xoxoxo
I suppose it is because I am the baby, but Jean has been known to tell me she loves me.
Harold and I once sat on a bench outside my house holding hands and talking. Inside the house the phone rang. Michael answered it and a neighbor told him I was making out with some man. Michael answered, “Oh, it’s okay. I know him.”
Quilly-Sister, I think it’s just because you’re special! Harold has always been a mushy bro…I love that boy. And I love you. xoxoxo
Just to clarify – I would never accidentally swear by saying “Jesus Jackie”, I would however say it in mocking Jean. (not that I believe one is much better than the other but I just wouldn’t be saying “God or Jesus” in that context)
Now who is the serious one?
and Charlene, I am sure it is because you are the baby and special that Jean actually speaks the words to you!!! Nice to hear you all love my brother since he is pretty dear to me as well!
I hate to read about all this leaving stuff on here, I still havent wrapped my brain around the full thought yet! much love, C
Caryl, if you’d pop on the net with us we’d all still be together no matter where were were …. uhm, together but seperate …. Don’t you find, when reading our posts, that you can actually hear our voices?
Btw, when did Jackie get so nice?
Ah jeepers, the two of you are just too cute, now I miss my sisters!
Criminey! How many sisters do you have? And how come I never heard of Jean? I’d never heard of Charlene before this blog thing started, either. I guess this thing IS good for family. Even if all I do drive people crazy.
BTW the winners have been announced– speaking of sisters.
Tom, nobody gave you a score card when you married into the family? Heh — Cindra was probably afraid it would scare you off.
You guys aren’t scary, you’re a riot! Well, Jean doesn’t sound like a riot, but she does sound well read though– real books, too! ha ha. I know, I know, I can just go read a big book of shut the hell up. Love you.
The other T
Caryl, I’m still at the end of the phone every day – even when we leave! LOL xoxoxoxo
Kat – growing up without parents, siblings became extra important, I think. Get your sisters to blog! At least to ‘comment’ to you like Caryl does – as she’s FAR TOO BUSY to blog with us!
Tom, you sounded just like Scott, he’s always giving someone a big cup of shut the hell up! LOL You do know who Scott is, don’t you? Cindra did tell you about having a brother, didn’t she?
That’s it with the sisters – just the four of us and one bro!
Quilly-Sister,
Pft.
Jackie, that’s my word! Give it back!
Sorry, Quilly-Sister, there was absolutely no other response that fit right there!! LOL
Here, you can have it back now, I’m done with it. Pft.
Brat.
Now it’s used. You’ve left your spit on it, and it doen’t work the same.
Pft.
See. Broken.
Okay, then, Quilly-Sister, I’ll take it if you don’t want it anymore. LOL
Pft.
I washed and dried it. Works fine again.