This was written years ago before the email when my sister and her family moved nearly a thousand miles away. Thankfully she is near me now.


Seperation of Souls

My sister has moved away. Oh how I miss her. Sunday mornings aren't the same at church. There's a big empty spot where she and her family sat. I can't look over at her and know we're both thinking the same thing.
She's been gone three and a half months now and I'm not getting used to her absense. I need the laughter we shared. We laughed at things no one else understood. We laughed at ourselves and our family mostly.
Who can I terrorize the mall with? Who else appreciates the agony of shopping for clothes with an imperfect body and empty check book?
Who is going to eat lunch with me and talk about all the weight we've gained and lost and regained as we make culinary love to a chocolate confection?
Now, we have to talk long distance and through the mail. I can't see her face or watch her body language. So much of what she says, she says with her expressions. I want to see her eyes smile and her cheeks become peaches.
I miss her children. My children miss their cousins. Our children have deep bonds of love and companionship. My youngest daughter, and her youngest son are 10 months apart. They have been best friends since they were babies. Our sons were born less than an hour apart. Their birthdays are coming up and they won't be together. Our daughters are so alike in personality and are good friends. My children carry an emptiness I can't fill.
As sisters, Kathy and I excuse each other's mistakes and shortcomings. We hold no grudges of childhood conflicts. We do not compete. We are not jealouse. We want the best for each other. That's the way it is with us. It's a bond, a loyalty, a love that was somehow absorbed from our parents. They didn't tell us we had to love each other. They didn't lecture us on ways to enhance our relationship. It just grew as we grew.
In our family, when one wins we all win. When one is hurting we all hurt. When one has blundered we are there to encourage and console. We have been blessed that way. Why God allowed Kathy to move away from us we don't know. Her husband said it meant a better job. God could have taken care of the job situation so that a move would not be necesssary, but He chose not to. So we'll all trust His plan and make the best of it. Still, I miss her so, but I will not pray that the heartache stops. Not to miss her this much would be not to love her this much. I'd rather have the pain.





Words by Phyllis J. Rhodes
Read 552 times
Written on 2006-09-09 at 06:24

dott Save as a bookmark (requires login)
dott Write a comment (requires login)
dott Send as email (requires login)
dott Print text


Amanda K
Phyllis,
I feel sorry that the miles took your sister away. As i was reading your words i remembered that my sister will leave us soon as well,God knows where,after her marraige and said to myself , Ahhh. I'm gonna miss her madly theway you do or ever more since she's my best friend.Thx for sharing us such sincere feelings.
2006-09-09


keith nunes
wonderful piece phyl. you write with such restrained passion. you and your sister sound like best friends. your sister sounds just terrific!
2006-09-09


lastromantichero The PoetBay support member heart!
hi there Phyllis this is a lovely poem for your beloved sister well done you two certainly have a lovely way with words
rgds mike
2006-09-09


Kathy Lockhart
Sis, you made me cry! I am so glad my life has changed. I am here, my kids are here, and I don't have that nuisance with me anymore. Now I have grandkids and so do you and we can laugh and talk about freckles that hop from one spot to another like fleas. lol love you, kathy
2006-09-09