Thongs, Whale Tails, and Other Variations of Big Girl Panties

i.e. my sister’s bachelorette party in Florida.


As the oldest in a group of eight - the big sister, I felt pseudo-responsible, while feeling like they are adults and should take care of themselves. My second instinct was right. I have no control. None.

My sister, the blonde, thought it was a good idea to go get a spray tan before we left so she wouldn’t get burned. Probably a good idea, except for the following:

1. She wore a thong and ended up with something called a whale tail, which, in my old age, I had never heard of,
and
2. The sun didn’t come out once. Cloudy and rainy all weekend.

The weekend wasn’t a total bust. I found I am not the only one in granny panties. Actually, I don’t even wear granny panties, but I certainly do not wear thongs, and apparently, that puts me in a minority. I decided that my underwear is the true big girl variety, though the others think their version is, too. It must be personal preference.

I found that I do like my life here in Georgia. My friends, my routines, my choices. Not everyone agrees with my life, but not everyone has to agree. Only I do. I missed hiking. I missed the band, who played two shows while I was gone – the first two shows I have missed in two years! I missed the peace of my room at night when I wanted to sleep, but couldn’t – there were seven girls who did not think sleep was interesting. I missed drama-free living.

But I had a pretty good time. My sister’s friends are not people I would normally run with. But they are fun in their own way. We laughed a lot. We stood in awe of the airbrush station in Wal-Mart. We went to the beach in spite of the clouds and the rain. We watched a couple get married on the beach in spite of the clouds and the rain. We toasted my sister and celebrated her emergence into this new life she is to start on Saturday.

When people come together for a common purpose, there is a love that exists no matter what. Even in a group of people who would not normally mix, even if I am not having a good time, I find the common thread and try to live in harmony. That was my creed for the weekend. And so it must also be this coming weekend for her wedding.

I am working on adjusting to life back in the norm. It was a crazy weekend, but I was able to take care of myself amidst it all and come out thriving. I went for a drive over a bridge with nothing but water below and to the sides of me and it was breathe-taking. Georgia air is different, but it is the air I need. Wedding this weekend, hiking next. I can’t wait to get the mountain air in my lungs again!

Hug Your Siblings

I'm off to the beach tomorrow.  No, not for lesuire, but for a party.  A big party.  My sister is getting married in 9 days...yes, the countdown has begun.  In reality, the countdown started about 6 months ago.  But now we are in the single digits.  So, 6 of her nearest and dearest, her, and I are headed to Destin for 3 1/2 days of sun and girly ridiculousness.

My sister and I are six years apart, I'm older.  We have never had much in common.  She is a super-girl, I am a tomboy.  We don't have any friends in common.  Her friends are the type of girls I wouldn't hang with, they do their hair everyday and wear nice clothes.  They do not wear Converse.  I wonder if any of them could catch a frisbee?

Most of them are married or in long term, live-in relationships.  They have done things "right", whatever that means.  (Again with the quotes! AAGGHHH!  This blog seems to be bringing out the worst in me!)  I'm sure to be questioned as to why I'm not currently attached.  I'm sure to have to tell them I'm just super-picky, that I don't have a good picker, that I have yet to find someone who meets all my needs and doesn't do something that annoys the shit out of me.

My sister has asthma.  And she is blonde and fair-skinned.  I need to be sure she doesn't hang in smoke very long (yeah, that's gonna happen...I'm sure we'll be bar-hoppin'), and that she doesn't burn (um, aren't we going to the BEACH???).  But I'll do what I can.  After all, I am the oldest.

I have to admit, I'm a little nervous about the weekend.  I'm afraid I won't fit in.  I'm afraid they won't like me.  I'm afraid I'll make an ass of myself.  I have a pretty big, unpredictable mouth.  Especially when I'm nervous.

But here's the thing.  It doesn't matter.  I am the big sister.  I can be who I want and what I want.  I will be here forever because sisters are forever.  Sisters matter, no matter how much I wanted a brother, I love my sister with all my heart.  She is, in spite of all the crap I gave her growing up, she is my favorite person.

We will recite lines from Mary Poppins and Back to the Future, sing Monkees songs and confuse the hell out of everyone.  But it's what we do.  And we love it.  It's our thing.

I hope to find time to write while I'm there.  Maybe even blog.  But if not, I'll be back Monday and surely have tons of stories to tell and pictures to share!

Hug your siblings this weekend.  Remember, older or younger, they are who part of who you are today.