Feb 24, 2009

Little surprises make the world go round.

I wasn't sure that I wanted to share this until just now. I've been mulling around being selfish and keeping it to myself or sharing it. The thing is that as selfish as I want to be, this was such a loving gesture that I really need to share it and give thanks.

I went to the mailbox recently and in there was a letter addressed tome from my sister. It was in a card envelope so my first reaction was that it was an invitation to a family event, I certainly wasn't prepared for the contents and it touched me very deeply when I opened it and read it.

Inside the envelope was the following poem~

Sisters
It's good it's bad- it's happy it's sad
It's often misunderstood
It's love, it's war it's so much more-
This thing called sisterhood

Serene Sensational
Incredible Inspirational
Superb Sincere
True Throughout the year!!
Educated Exceptional
Radiant Respectable
Simply Sisters both dear!!

We're cried on we're relied on,
We're sisters until the end.
We hear, we share-we dare to care,
We're family and we're friends

Love Tammy

When I read it I was taken back. When in the middle of transition my sister and I reconnected I had such a hard time with whether I should tell her about her little brother's secret. I've labored because Tammy and I have always been close and it was something I had been afraid to damage. I know it wasn't easy for her to understand when I told her. I was expecting the worst like most trans people do. But I was pleasantly amazed when she told me that it would take sometime for her to get used to it and try to understand it.

As time and questions would flow she would start referring to me as her sister in emails. She never wanted to burden me with her bad days, only if to make sure I was ok in my new life. She's never asked anything of me and always made sure to be there if I needed to talk. I cannot and would not ever ask for a better sister than my sister Tammy. From the time we were young till now she has always been dear in my heart. In fact, she was there for the birth of my daughter.

You can understand how a letter like this can hit you. It's a warm feeling not only being loved but accepted and included such as this. This is one of those gestures that is not only moving but is significant enough to be framed and put on my wall to remind me that I have a beautiful, loving sister who will always be there for me.

Tammy, I thank you for this gift from the bottom of my heart and I love you dearly …
Your Sis Karyn XOXO

5 comments:

Tammy said...

This is your sister Tammy.
As much as that touched you what you said touched me (I cried). You will always be in my heart and I except you for who you are not who I remember you to be. I just want you to be happy and yes I will always be there for you whenever you need me or just want to spend time together. Love ya lots

VĂ©ro B said...

This is so wonderful. I'm crying too.

Anonymous said...

This is so very touching. Thanks both to you and your sister Tammy for sharing with us the sentiments you share.

I have two older sisters, and both so far are very accepting. It has only been a few months since they have known, so time will tell how well we can bond going forward. I hope we do as well as you both have done.

Hugs, Tiana :)

Cynthia Tebbetts said...

You are living proof that you get back what you put forth. It's easy to see why people are so caring about you, even if you sometimes fail to see it.

You've got tons of good and warmth coming your way.

Samantha Shanti said...

Well, now I'm crying too! Tears of happiness for you! I too am blessed with amazing and accepting sisters, and I'm really glad you are too!

Thanks Tammy! Karyn's pretty precious around here too, so to know you feel the same way, that's just awesome!

Sam

P.s. the catcha word reminds me of one we used when I worked in fast food decades ago: unkfryal Which was short for "Unknown Fry all" as in we didn't know when it was last changed so it best be done...