Happy/Sad

October, 2007. Celebrating my Dad's 89th birthday, and memorializing the death of my sister. I had 3 siblings. Two brothers, Terry, 9 years my senior, and Bergy (Carl Jr.) two years my junior. A sister, Diane, 7 years my senior. My sister and I were never what you could call 'close'. We were in fact, worlds apart. As kids, she accused me of being a spoiled brat, I accused her of being a slut. Based on what we knew at the time, I guess we were both right. I thought she was slut because when I was 8 and she 15 I would catch her kissing boys in our avocado grove. Of course I would always rat on her, she would get in trouble, and she would call me a spoiled brat. Makes sense now. Even over the years we never became the friends most sisters do. We always seemed worlds apart. I guess I loved her because she was my sister....but like the old saying goes...'you can pick your friends'...something about relatives goes in that next part....

My sister woke up one morning in early 2004 unable to speak clearly. Everyone immediately thought she'd had a stroke. It was later determined she had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. A rapidly progressive, invariably fatal neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. A horrible, debilitating disease with no known cure nor real understanding of where it comes from. Her descent was gradual for many months. She was able to swallow soft foods, but unable to talk. Eventually, she had to have a feeding tube. The last time I saw her, 6 months before her death, she could walk normally, smile and write down what she was thinking on the little pad and pen she carried. I had planned to visit her in October while in California to celebrate Pop's birthday. The week before I was to travel out there she succumbed to this horrific disease. Family members stayed in her home so she didn't have to die in a hospice. I made the trip to California as scheduled. My daughters and son joined me there for the memorial service and to celebrate Pop's 89th birthday. It was a sad and joyous time. I'm so grateful my Pop is still alive and well....golfing and swimming.