NICOLE AND JAMIE

Laverne and Shirley...Bert and Ernie...Wilma and Betty...Lucy and Ethel...Hannah Montana and Lola...dynamic duos that go together like peanut butter and jelly.  My older sister Nicole and I are only three years apart and should have walked through our childhood arm in arm.  There was only one issue...we are as different as day and night.  I had a pink huffy bicycle with tassels flowing from the handles and Nicole's bike was black.  When my mom wanted to dress us alike I wore the jumper/dress version and she wore the pants ensemble.  I danced ballet.  She played basketball.  I styled my long hair in fashionable braids or pigtails.  Nicole wore her hair short (think Dorothy Hamill) and usually hid under a baseball cap.  I had a million pretend friends and the part that Nicole played in my fantasy world was my son Mikey Miller...need I say more. A tomboy and a princess tied by the bonds of sisterhood forever.

As we grew up, we never uncovered a reason to separate.  Nicole and I attended the same college, were members of Sigma Kappa sorority, shared an apartment, were married within a year of each other, and had our children about a year apart.  We have so many similar experiences that you would think that we would be like two peas in a pod.  However, everyday I wonder how the heck we came from the same two parents. Nicole is 5 feet tall and I am 5 feet 9 inches.  She is like a size 0 and let's just say I am in the double digit range.  She has the mind of a chemist and the ability to get things done.  I have the heart of a dreamer and can waste a day just thinking about what I would like to accomplish.  Don't let her tough exterior fool you...she is s softee on the inside, but she certainly does not wear her emotions on her sleeve like I do.  She is an athlete and ultra competitive and I can barely dribble a ball.  Often times our distinct personalities lead to disagreements and we know how to push each other's buttons like only a sister can.  But here is the thing...I have shared my entire life with her.  She was there at some of the most wonderful moments I have celebrated.  When the pain was so hard that I thought I would never see my way out there she was waiting for me to find the light at the end of the tunnel.  Sometimes we don't particularly like each other, but there is always love.

We all have people in our little worlds that make us wonder what God was thinking.  I am sure you know a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or even a family member that brings frustration because you cannot figure out what makes them tick. Often times we take on a superior attitude thinking if they would only open their eyes and see how things should be done then we could live in peace and harmony.  Through the ups and downs of my relationship with my older sister I have discovered so many truths.  It might be easier, but it would be boring, if we were all the same.  The unique perspective that others bring to our lives often opens our eyes to what was hidden.  For example, sometimes when we reminisce about our Dad she will have an entirely different take on a memory that we share.  Nicole has enriched my life by helping me step outside my comfort zone and see that there was a world outside my Barbie dream house.   Because we don't think the same way I have to really work at listening and communicating with her.  Sometimes we get irritated with each other, but I am so thankful that we always find a way to move past the issue and find a reason to laugh again. 

As you are reading these words, you might think of someone in your inner circle that is unlike anyone that you know.  Take a moment to thank God for placing them in your life.  Even after 38 years with my sis, I still am not an expert on the inner workings of Nicole V. Donahue.  I don't care anymore...in this moment...I am just extremely grateful for my Big/very little sistah. 



Nicole, Me, and Lee Lee
Who said being the middle child is an issue...I turned out so well adjusted...