|
|
Sassafras' Sister
The story is a long one, but it boils down to this....I needed a friend and she needed a support system. I was an only child and her mother traveled and moved a lot due to the Navy. Now, I'm not blaming the Navy because it was wonderful for my father. I'm just saying that for some children life as a "Navy brat" is not the best thing. Sure it's fun for a while, but it's hard making new friends and changing schools all the time. You are the perpetual "new kid". Not that I'm complaining, because looking back as an adult on the life I've led so far, I realize that I was blessed with a stable family and relatives I could count on. Kristen, however, only had her
mother. Her father lived and lives in New York, while she and her mother
were in Florida. Since he had never gotten visitation rites, Kristen rarely
if ever got to see him. Since the rest of her family also lived in New York,
well, she didn't get to see them much either. There is her much older
half-brother, Scott, but by the time I met Kristen, he was already out of
the house. Over the years Kristen and I formed at lasting bond that has survived many trials. My stubbornness and pride. Her being too cool for me when she got to middle school. Our stay at Space Camp. Summers spent apart doing different things. Her move to California. Always being at separate schools. Disney World...both times. Sea World and Busch Gardens with the family (It was REALLY hot!!). Things like that. The important thing is that now 18 years (as of this December) later we are still friends and sisters. Click here to see the pictures! How did we get to be sisters? Well, since Kristen's mom traveled, she looked to my mom for guidance during her mom's adventures. Kristen got her first pair of jeans on a shopping expedition with Cyndy, my mom. My grandmother got a Hi-C stain out of her shirt. My dad was a male influence and now considers himself Kristen's "god-father." We are all a "God-given" family. So when Carol, Kristen's mom, had to move to California when Kristen was 16, Kristen went. After a year Carol had an uncertain future...she wasn't sure where she would be stationed the next year. Thus, Kristen would never have residency in any state, so there would be no chance of state scholarships. In order for Kristen to have residency, my parents signed papers and became Kristen's legal guardians when she was 17. Kristen has been my sister ever since. She calls us all her god-family, given to her by God. I personally thank God all the time that she came along. Our family just wouldn't be the same without her. She opened the doors of communication between me and my mom and she loosened up my dad. Now he will talk more about his opinions and feelings instead of letting all the women walk all over him. Kristen was the first one to really look at my dad and ask, "Well, how do you feel about that?" I had never thought to ask him that before. We just sort of went along as chums. Funny how one person can change your perspective on life so dramatically. The one great thing about Kristen is that she is always off on adventures. After her freshman year in the FSU Circus, Kristen spent her junior year at Florida State University, abroad. The first semester in Florence, Italy and the second semester working in London, England. Her senior year was spent in Tallahassee, FL. Kristen graduated in May of 1998 with one Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and was just shy of another in Political Science. In her first year of graduate school at John Hopkins University, she lived in Bologna, Italy. While her second year was spent in Washington D.C., U.S.A. In May 2000, she graduated from John Hopkins University with her Masters Degree. Hard to believe she was in the US for a whole year! The past few years, Kristen has been living in the UK working for Accenture. We don't get to see her as much as we'd like, but hey, now we've got free housing and a tour guide in London! Our family couldn't be more proud. Kristen, you are a constant source of amazement and strength for me. I love you.
|
I suppose some of you might be curious
as to how Joyleaf came to be my sister. You see, I didn't meet her until I
was in the fourth grade in Pensacola. Believe it or not, I threw light-brights
at her the first time I saw her! :-) How did we ever become such lasting
friends and sisters? 