Memories emerge at sister's funeral

Sitting under a green funeral tent that was shaking, snapping and extreme popping, I sent the thought to my 90-year-old sister, "See there, you are even getting a 20-gun salute."

We had the kind of relationship where we shared many deep thoughts, ideas and secrets till we could almost read each other's minds even though we lived two states apart for over 50 years.

I realized I was hearing the last few words of the 23rd Psalm. Her family and mine had walked in a trance-like fog for several days and it was coming to an end.

In the growing years, we had a good sibling rivalry. Yes, this is not a recent trait.

Sixty years ago, I was so jealous because she always got to be at Mom's side. She was learning how to cook, can, bake and sew. Years later, she told me how jealous she was because I was always at Dad's side learning to hitch a mule team and turn the fly wheel to start the John Deer tractor.

The drought, Depression and then War changed all of our lives and made us hold each other closer. Riding to Iowa in the back seat, I let memories float around. One -- the look on her face when she wrung the old hen's neck. It still had to be plucked and cleaned to make noodles but I knew then I was going to do it alone.

And, I remember the day she had a personal battle in the garden with a snake and hoe. I walked in her shadow through grade school and high school. When my legs got too long to sleep in the old iron crib, the decision was made to move me upstairs to her bed. She had no vote and was quick to let every one know it every time I wet the bed. It wasn't often but too many times for her. We have shared many things that most people don't talk about. And we clung as we began to leave the older part of family and now you've left me to carry on alone. I came back into this life when the minister says if you'd like to greet the family.

The prairie wind whipped us for the entire time. Of course, we took winter gear but the wind forced itself in. Allen found coveralls and an extra coat in the tool box that Connor had to wear all the time.

My family was treated like royalty even thought his was their mother. Three boys and one girl was what we had. Unplanned, but size of family same, close to ages. Over the years, they had all made their own friendships which shows how she influenced both our families.

There will be many more memory trips but after we returned home, I developed a raging case of shingles. That was another memory trip of her stopping my hands about scratching when I had chicken pox. Shows what goes around, comes around!

Life has been much better for having had you for a sister.

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Editors note: Edith Lammey has been a resident of the area for nearly 40 years. She can be contacted through The Times at 451-1196 or [email protected].

Editorial on 04/27/2016