My daughter posted one of those survey things about sisters earlier this evening and it got me to thinking about my sisters. There was an extremely large age gap in my siblings but I would like to tell you about my sisters. My sister Wylma was already married and had children of her own and lived half the country away when growing up but she never neglected her baby sister. Christmas and birthdays were never forgotten and I always knew who my Sissy Wylma was (that's what I called her my whole life). Even though travel was difficult in those days there was always an effort to come every couple of years to be with family. Now her children are older than me and it always seemed funny to be their aunt but they still to this day show me the respect of being called Aunt, something they could have only learned from an excellent roll model that I know my Sissy was. Then comes Judye and Sue. They were my extra moms. They were teenagers when I came along and I was their real life babydoll. Judye had excellent seamstress skills and she created fancy little outfits with all the frills and sparkles any little girl needs as well as Barbie clothes for me and my friends, and dance and skating costumes. When she married she moved to Salem and it didn't quit then, she still had me come stay many weekends and spoiled me with anything I wanted. Sister Sue worked as a car hop at the West Y and her tip money was used to buy the fabric for all those costumes and she had a friend that danced so she paid for my ballet lessons. In those days (I think I was about 3 they didn't make little dance shoes) I took my first lessons in sock feet until I was big enough to have real shoes which she also got for me after she moved to St Louis after graduation. I remember her taking me to Salem on the bus or the train just because it would be a fun trip for a little girl. I remember my first "dress up clothes" was putting on their prom dresses. Yes statistically I shouldn't be close to my sisters or have the love for them that I do because of the age difference. But in my whole life ,the best part has always been my sisters. So in case I don't tell you enough I love you and always counted myself very lucky to have you 3 through all of my life. Since 2 of them are unable to see this I'm counting on my nieces Nancy and Kathy to show it to them. black girl prom dresses