When we were kids, my sister Tracy and I didn’t always get along. She’s 5 1/2 years older than me, so she always treated me like a baby (which I suppose I was, to her). I went back and forth between desperately wanting to be included in all of the cool stuff she got to do with her friends, and being mad at her because she treated me like a baby.
Of course, we grew up, and things changed. I’m not sure exactly when, probably when we were both in our 20s. Now we’re pretty close and have an easy relationship with each other. Sure, sometimes we get pissy with each other, but it’s usually mild stuff that blows over within a minute or two (literally). I honestly can’t remember the last real fight that we had. I mean, I remember the time that I called her a bitch and it made her cry, but I think I was about 17 years old at the time. I can’t think of anything in the past decade.
And it particularly strikes me as odd, after spending the past weekend with my mom and her sisters. There are 7 kids in her family: 4 boys and 3 girls. And the brothers all seem to get along well with everyone; they’re the peacemakers in the family. But my mom and her two sisters… man. They have this competitive thing, this need to one-up the other and prove that I AM RIGHT AND YOU ARE WRONG WRONG WRONGITY-WRONG. They love each other, of course, but there’s a lot of sniping and eye-rolling going on too. And they’re all in their 60s now, so it’s not like that dynamic is ever going to change. So it’s strange to look at those relationships, and then see the relative ease that Tracy and I have with each other. It makes me grateful, to be honest.
Tracy doesn’t have any kids, and I’m pretty sure that if you asked her, she’d say that she’s happy that way. But when Catie was born, I think it made her second-guess that decision, even if it was just for a minute.
It was hard when we lived in Seattle and we’d only see our family a couple of times a year, but Catie never went through a “stranger danger” fear with Tracy. It’s like she has always known that Tracy belongs to her.
When we moved from Seattle to North Carolina, my sister flew from NYC to Seattle, so that I wouldn’t have to attempt a cross-country flight by myself with an 18 month-old. That pretty much cemented her position as The Most Awesome Aunt Ever. (She even got to experience Catie’s motion sickness firsthand; and as a result of Catie’s epic backseat milk barf right as we were pulling in to the airport, I’m pretty sure Tracy’s name has been blacklisted from all Dollar Rental Car locations in the U.S.)
For us, moving to North Carolina was a little bit of a double-edged sword with our families. Sure, it meant that we got to see them more often, and that was great. Tracy was only a short 90-minute flight away in NYC. But it also meant that Catie’s tears were increasingly dramatic every time Tracy had to leave and go back home. It went from a few tears and sniffles and woeful moans of, “my Twaaacy!” from the backseat, to (at this last visit) a full-on screaming meltdown of “I GO WIF’ YOUUUUU!!!!” in which she tried to extricate herself from her carseat and almost made herself vomit from sobbing so much. It wasn’t a fun goodbye, to say the least.
A few months ago, Tracy started talking about maybe moving to be even closer. The company she works for is international and has offices all over the place; after a little research, she found out that they have a branch office in Charlotte, which is only 150 miles from here (also, coincidentally, where my brother Chris lives). She asked about possibly relocating, and they said yes.
(Of course, in a perfect world, I’d prefer that she relocate to Raleigh. But her company doesn’t have an office here, and she doesn’t want to leave her job, which I understand. It’ll still be nice to be able to visit each other via car instead of airplane!)
I’ve been scared to blog about this for fear that it would fall through, but right now, as I type this, movers are loading up my sister’s NYC apartment. She is moving to Charlotte. Today.
And I know one little girl who can’t wait to see her favorite aunt.
I think this is absolutely the most AWESOME thing! Catie is going to have a field day! (side note I love that last picture of Catie and Tracy. It’s a favorite of mine.)
this was a great post.
That is SO great that your sister will only be 150 miles away! That’s only about 2 hours by car, right? (Not sure of how the roads are down here…it takes about 2.5 hours for me from RI to ME which is 180 miles). So happy for your family!
.-= Jen @ lifelove’n’wine´s last blog ..Of Yoga and Booze =-.
First off, and I’m sure you’ve been told this a million times, your little one is gorgeous! And she is so lucky to have an aunt that cares and adores about her, and her the same in return. We moved an entire state away from my father and my mothers side of my family (once my grandmother passed two years ago we didn’t see anyone and they lived 15 mins away) and we moved to another state. Now we are living with family and I can tell you to have someone for your daughter to be that close with is awesome!
I think aunts with the name of Tracy are always the favorite. :):):) I am also called “my Tracy” by my sister’s children. Will would also have meltdowns when I was leaving … until his dad told him that he wouldn’t be allowed to go to the airport to say goodbye to me if he couldn’t stop crying. That kept the others from doing the same.
I am jealous of your sister … I wished I was moving closer to my sister and her family.
Enjoy it. And take advantage of the weekends she can spend with Tracy to have some quiet times with your husband. I wish I could do that for my sister.
.-= Tracy @redvu9395´s last blog ..will be back soon =-.
Yaye for you and Catie & Tracy!!! So excited that she’s moving closer and that ya’ll will be able to see her more often.
.-= AmazingGreis´s last blog ..Will power; I have none… =-.
Aw, that was an awesome post. My “baby” sister is in Charlotte and I miss her tons.
That’s so awesome that y’all get along and like eachother. I’m jealous. I have 2 sisters. One is 1.5 years yougner and we can barely tolerate eachother. We’re just SO different and can’t get along. My other sister is 7 years younger and we lead completely different lives. There’s no common ground there either…but we at least get along. Point is I always dream of being close to my sisters but I know now that’s not gonna happen. I’m starting to accept it. I’m glad your sister is moving closer!
.-= Becky´s last blog ..How I spent my Easter =-.
I’m so glad that you and Tracy have a good relationship, and Catie has such an awesome Aunt.
I had a favorite aunt growing up, and she really was a second mom to me. I have such wonderful memories of her. I know Catie will have those, too.