Birthday Morning

So, what were you doing 31 years ago today? Seriously, you can't remember? Let me jog your memory. It was the bicentennial. "Disco Duck" was a huge hit. The Montreal Olympics were beginning . . . you do remember Nadia Comaneci, don't you? Oh, and my best friend was born. Only then, she was just my little sister, Lola, and my world was about to be flipped upside down.

One of the nights Lola wouldn't sleep

See, I liked being an only child. It was a pretty sweet gig, if you ask me. Mom and Dad didn't exactly spoil me, but if I wanted an Inch Worm or the Sunshine Family, I knew I would get them. A sibling would change all that. I knew something was up after Mom read a hideous 'where babies come from' kind of book. And then, June 22 rolled around and I was shuttled off to Mrs. Berghoff's house. That was a treat in and of itself, so I knew the end was near. Dad came to Bergie's house late that night to tell me that I had a new sister . . . crap.

At first it was odd having a baby in the house. Lola's legs stood straight up if you pull the covers off, and she never, ever slept. That got a bit annoying after a while. The next year it became interesting as the Other Sister joined us. With two sisters, I could really have fun. If I wanted to dress them up in saris, no problem; they even stood still so I could draw a bindi on their foreheads in Marks-A-Lot. If Mom sent us out to play on the front porch, I could convince Lola to hold on to an open umbrella and jump off the porch a la Mary Poppins. Lola and the Other Sister were always up for a game of Witchy Witch or Statue Statue, and one of them could be counted on to ask Mom for money for the Ooga Man.

Remember, I saved you the night of the motel "fire" . . . Dad saved his golf clubs!

It wasn't until Lola went to college that we became friends. When she graduated, it got even better. Who was this funny woman I was talking to? Oh, that's my sister. What the hell? Now, the Flyer and SK are used to coming home and finding us on the phone with each other. My girls love talking to their aunt, even if they have never called her Aunt Lola, and they know that whatever they tell me will eventually make its way to her.

I credit my knitting passion to my sister. I took classes years ago and made several lovely scarves and bear sweaters (don't ask), but it fell by the wayside. When the Other Sister had Beaner, I started knitting again, and Lola was right there to talk me through the finer points of Knitting 101. She very rarely if ever will talk me out of a purchase, but she will point out if I have yarn of that type in my stash. And, on a few occasions, she will talk me into a purchase . . . Cider Moon comes to mind.

You were such a good sport . . . I owe you one!

So, on Lola's birthday, right after she had that lovely ultrasound, here are some things you should know about her.

she doesn't like gum, the wrappers that gum comes in, or talking to you if you are chewing it
she wanted to invite Carly and Sonny from General Hospital to her wedding - the characters, not the actors
she jumped off the back of the couch after I told her if she ate a tablespoon of Superman Peanut Butter she could fly like the Man of Steel (got in trouble for that one)
she has a birthmark on her forehead that gets red when she is sick
she is a great mom, a great sister, and a great friend

Happy birthday! Love you bunches!

Ava

PS - pictures of the London Shrug tomorrow or Sunday. I just couldn't muster the energy to do any more ribbing last night. UGH!