The Uninvited Guest

My younger sister is nearly my Irish twin. We are one year and one week apart and for the large part of our fifty plus years, we have been very close. She is my best friend for life.

This year was our first birthdays without our beloved Mother. I tend to be more emotional than any of my siblings, no BIG surprise there, but I had a sneaky suspicion even Suzy would have a difficult time this year. As much as I could manage, for the past ten years, I tried to call my three sisters on their birthdays while I was with Mom. They loved hearing her sing Happy Birthday to them and with the help of the Marco Polo app, they have been able to keep those priceless memories.

Knowing what an emotional rollercoaster I rode the week of my birthday, I thought I might not be the only one on the “struggle bus” on my birthday, so I decided to drive to my sisters for her big day and hopefully lift her spirits. She lives eight hours away and I had not seen her since Mom’s funeral earlier this year. She was so faithful about coming home every summer to visit Mom for a week or two and giving me a much-needed break. It was my turn to head her way.

Two days before her birthday, I started my journey to her home. Unlike any other visit, this time I chose NOT to tell anyone in her family of my impending arrival. I arrived at about 4 p.m. and ran into an unforeseen problem I had never expected. Their garage doors were closed due to the cold temperatures and the side door was locked. The front door was also out of commission. I finally got the oldest daughter to come down to the garage to let me in after a couple of texts. Her face was priceless!!!! I let her in on my secret and we begin the surprise attack. We quietly crept up the staircase where I meet the eyes of my other niece who is absolutely bewildered as to why and how I was there. This is so much fun. I ask where their Mom is and was told she is lying down with a heating pad in her room. My brother-in-law is in the kitchen cooking with his son-in-law. His back was turned to me and I didn’t want him to speak too loudly, so I tapped him on the shoulder and put my hand gently over his mouth. He whispers, “OH MY GOD. ” He could not believe it. Then I got a great big hug from him and I hear the most repeated statement of the day, “I can’t believe you’re here!.” We all sneak off down the hallway to my sister’s bedroom.

I have not had this much fun since I was a child at Christmas or seeing my own children open their presents at Christmas. I mean this was legit. I open the door and find Suzy lying on her back looking at her computer. I yell, “Surprise!” She looks at me a couple of times, almost as if looking past me and looks at the entourage filing in behind me and then she drills us with the questions, “What? Who knew? How did you get here? Who came with you? Why?” We hugged and hugged again and then the tears began to fall.

On my first full day, I went to visit my sister at the school where she works. We hung out for a couple of hours watching her do what she does best and even got to interact with some of the kids. She also introduced me to all her co-workers. It was a wonderful afternoon spent with her in her “second home.”

With her entire family present, we enjoyed a wonderful weekend celebrating not only her birthday, but her husband’s as well since it falls the day before. We attended my niece’s choir performance at their church that unbeknownst to me was akin to an All Souls Day service where they called out each name of those who had passed. Suzy and I held hands through the ceremony. It was so special to be together when they called our parents’ names in this solemn, reverent setting.

The last night I was thrilled to go support my brother-in-law while he sang with the Symphony. It was beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed this evening with my precious family.

As I left last night, my sister and I had a long, heartfelt goodbye outside, sharing some sentimental thoughts, hugs and tears and she said something that I feel sums this weekend up, “You were the gift I didn’t know I needed.”

Happy birthday Suzy. I love you so much.

With a smile and a VERY happy heart,

Ellen