Ramona Grows Up

I have one sister whom I love very much, but who I’ve also tried to give up for adoption for much of her life.   The story begins a few days after she was born when I asked my mother, “When is that baby going to live in someone else’s house?”    And, thus, the sibling torture began... 

There is an old joke in our family (or maybe just in my mind) that my sister was like the Beverly Clearly character “Ramona the Pest” when we were growing up.  In fact…and here comes something not very nice about me… I actually called her “Ramona” for much of her childhood.   (She’s fine with it now; years of therapy have helped.)  In the last few years, though, she’s stopped being the 6-year-old, annoying little sister of my childhood memories, and has transformed in my view into a real, grown-up woman who is wildly successful in her profession and an amazing human being.    The irony here to me, is that while she has grown in a lot of ways, maybe it’s really my own growing up - letting go of those childhood memories of her and seeing her for the woman she has become.   

My sister and I are now working professionally together again, which is quite a treat!  I’m learning so much about her, seeing her from other’s perspectives, and watching the relationships she has developed with people I have admired for a long time.    ( I still sneak in an “I taught her everything she knows” comment!)

People DO grow up and become the people they were meant to me.   I’m thankful that “Ramona” has forgiven me for tormenting her during her childhood and is now allowing me to be part of her professional world, where she shines each day.   

And that makes me smile.