A scorpion stung my sister when she was six years old.
The venom moved through her body,
attacking her nervous system
weakening her for days
and forcing her into bed.
Just eighteen months older,
I sat at her bedside,
repeating my first true prayer:
“Dear God, please don’t let her die. I need her.”
My sister might have met the creator those days
she laid in bed.
the All Knowing might have extracted the venom and
injected life’s secrets into my sister’s veins.
When she was ten, I woke in the middle of night
and spotted my sister,
kneeling on her bed,
looking up in awe
and talking to the sky.
“What are you doing?” I asked, quietly.
“I’m talking to the moon,” she said, mesmerized.
“Come look, Isn’t She pretty?” she whispered.
I knelt beside my sister that night —
It was the first time she taught me to look up —
to stretch my neck out,
lift my head up,
and witness the night’s light —
the radiant silvery moon aglow in the dark sky.
“God is the greatest artist,” she said at only seventeen years old.
I was driving down 78 west and she was sitting beside me, staring
like a collector of fine art, out the window.
Neck stretch out, head turned, I look up —
again — this time to slices of silver splashing through the
radiant red and golden oranges of sunset.
Colors and clouds moved around us
and we locked eyes with each other
then back at the heavens revealing itself to us.
“Isn’t this a college party?” she asked
when bodies were braced against the wall like they were trying to hold it up.
I was supposed to be embarrassed
as she took center stage on the empty dance floor
and moved with the music.
but I joined her.
Then
one by one
people peeled themselves off the wall, like paint, and pranced about with us.
I was twenty two and scared
when I sat beside my sister and told her I was pregnant.
She jumped to her feet, shielding me from the sun.
“We’re pregnant?” she squealed with joy
my body registered as otherworldly acceptance.
A little less scared
I looked up again.
“We’re pregnant,” my voice trembled.
According to the calendar, my sister will be 40 years old.
To me, she can not be bound to years when
She lives each day like it is its own universe.
Maybe these are the secrets the creator whispered in her ear at six years old.
Life is Ephemeral.
Look up at the sky- at the stars, the sun, the clouds, the moon.
Get off the Damn Wall — at the party and in life.
Dance when there is music– you are lucky to hear it.
Make life a little less scary for the ones you love.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!!
Love you always, T. (Only if you ask, I will tell you why I signed this T:-)
I LOVE CONNECTING WITH YOU
Do you have a sibling? How have they impacted your life? How did it feel seeing your simple hit a major milestone?
ON WRITING
I’ve been working on my manuscript for months and now, it’s in the hands of someone else. (I will tell you all about it soon).
I pitched an article idea to an editor a few months ago and I finally got the go-ahead email. I have written my first sentence and a few discombobulated paragraphs are floating about on the page. Pray it all comes together before my December 30th deadline.
WHAT I’M READING
I read the sample of IN EVERY MIRROR SHE’S BLACK by Lola AkinMade Akerstrom, aaaaaaand a sample just won’t do. I have to buy the book. Have you read it? What are you reading? I would like to add it to my book list for the upcoming year.
POEM OF THE WEEK
The poem is in honor of my sister’s 40 birthday.
I am grateful for all the poems you sent me. I will be sure to read them in the weeks to come.
ART BY ONTONIO
Like life, this piece is multi-layered. It started out wrapped in plastic and after a year, it is full of meaning, memories and colors. This palette tells the tale of all the pieces Ontonio painted this year!!!! If his painting is hanging in your house, on your boat, or hanging in memorandum of a love one — your piece started here.
It’s the season of giving. If you’d like to buy one of Ontonio’s paintings but your limited on space or funds, check out his merch page on Ontonio.com
Ontonio DESIGNS+BUILD+MANAGE Websites. He created this beautiful blog for me. If you or someone you know would like a logo or website designed, please check him out at www.Happylifemediagroup.com.
THANK YOU
I’m super thankful for all your support, encouraging comments, your expressions of gratitude, and your financial contributions.
PLEASE SUPPORT ME BY:
Until Next Time, Enjoy Your Next Breath
Kadine Christie
