Thursday, March 12, 2009

Happy 50th Birthday, Char

I love all three of my sisters and today is our sister, Charlotte’s, birthday. And it’s a milestone year at that! My sister is great. She’s involved in so many different things in her church and her community and she’s beloved by all who know her.

DSC_0304 copy 2 Here’s a photo of us that my husband took this January. That’s Char on the right.

Char’s love of ironing is surpassed by no one in their right mind, and we enjoy teasing her about it. Ironing just calms the dear girl’s nerves.

She is the perfect hostess and when you stay at her home, she leaves a set of towels on the dresser and a mint on the pillow. Ok, I’m lying about the mint.

When we were children, we used to pick on Char but I think she’s forgiven us. She couldn’t help it that she was our mother’s favorite, you know. She won all the “Be Nice Contests” that our mother would hold in her futile attempt at keeping her brood of seven children in control. Whomever was the “nicest child” that week would get to go out on a special dinner with our mother to McDonald’s, a rare treat for a family our size. Our father would have to stay home and babysit the rest of the children. After a few weeks of Char winning, and cream dried chipped beef as a consolation dinner for the rest of us, the contest was finally put to rest after we locked Char in a closet on the final day just to get her out of the running.

She had water.

And books.

And we were all punished when our parents found out. Well, I was punished. I was the eldest and besides (and I say this in a whisper) it was my idea.

Oh the horrors of youth! But despite the cruelties she suffered (not reallly), Char turned out to be a model citizen with a lovely family. Well, they’re mostly lovely. I wouldn’t use the words Dave (her husband) and lovely in the same sentence. He’d want me to say manly. Yes, Dave is manly. And he has a lot of gas.

So happy birthday, my sister! I love you.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

Dave, you know it’s true.

41 comments:

Ellen said...

Happy birthday to your sweet sister.

Mental P Mama said...

What a tribute! And what is it about all the Dave's in the world? Geesh. Happy Birthday Char!

cottage farm villa said...

Happy Birthday to your Sis!!! Does she read your blog???? Does her gassy hubby??
:)

Lyn said...

I have 2 sisters as well and I always say that the best gift our parents gave us was each other. Nothing like the love and friendship of a sister -- and you paid wonderful homage to yours!

Country Girl said...

Hey, all. Yes, Char does read this blog. And Dave will probably read it tomorrow because he'll know I will want to say happy birthday. I'm not positive he's really gassy. But he does always say, "I have gas". So I think it's safe to assume that he does. Either that or he's trying to clear the room of us. I don't know!!

BB said...

What a fabulous number to celebrate!! Hope there is much fine wine, great food and outstanding company to help with festivities!!!

Can I say what great faces you both have?? Wonderful...
:-)
BB

Char said...

Char is one of my nicknames too! amazing how we torture our siblings and then love them so very much as we get older.

in my family the best child is called the "golden child" and we tease my youngest brother about this all the time.

Anonymous said...

Aw shucks, Kate. I love you too. Thanks for the nice blog for my birthday. I'm kind of excited to be fifty. And I used to think 40 was ancient! And you know I have NO memory of that closet thing. Isn't that weird? XXOO Wish you were here. P.S. Dave is downstairs making lasagna for tomorrow night's birthday dinner and he has gas.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Marvelous post! I laughed really loudly about your locking Char in the closet. Sounds like something I would/could have done to my younger sisters!

Happy Birthday, Char. You've got a very nice sister, even if she did shut you in the closet.

Delwyn said...

Nothing like sisters...

Anonymous said...

My sissy is just the best too! I never locked her in a closet but I did throw her Chatty Baby Doll over the stairwell and broke her vocal chords... not sure Sissy ever forgave me for breaking the sweet doll... *giggles

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

abb said...

Aren't sisters just the very best?? I count myself as one very blessed girl to have a (little) sister to call my own.

Egghead said...

Lovely birthday greetings. Happy birthday to Char. Sisters are so great. What would we do without them?

Carin said...

Oh so wonderful. I have to confess: when I was a young girl I was trying to save money for something VERY special. I saved everything and counted my money all the time. I kept it in a jar and if there were any dollar bills that were wrinkled or had an edge up on them..... I would IRON THEM! I ironed ALL my money ALL the time!!!

I did quit doing it but sometims I still think about it.

Hilary said...

Happy birthday to Char! :)

Sharkbytes said...

Pretty funny! And happy day to Char. If she steals too much of your thunder, do you still have good sized closets?

Skogkjerring said...

Happy Birthday to your beloved sister- ironing eh??? She could come to Norway and iron for me..I don't iron unless I absolutely- no way around it- have too!!! I think the wrinkly look has a charm about it...hahahahaha...

KathyB. said...

Hey, I am a Kathryn with 3 younger sisters....those younger sisters were always Mom's favorites!But aren't they fun now? Happy birthday Char.

My 3 sisters and I got together a short time ago for a "sisters weekend" and we had a blast.....

Anonymous said...

LOL, well, Happy Birthday to your sister! 50 is a good birthday, I think!

Kerri Farley said...

Happy Birthday to your sis! A sweet picture of the two of you together, too!!

Woman in a Window said...

So there's your evil streak! I am laughing so hard right now. Oh dear, gotta love you. Happy Birthday to your sister!

Sandy@American Way Farm said...

Just found your site. Wonderful stories and beautiful photography.

Happy 50th to Char. I too got locked in a closet when I was a kid - frequently, till I discovered blackmail - "if you put me in the closet again I'll tell Mom what you did last night". Funny thing - that worked wonders. LOL So's here's to us closet kids! -Sandy

The Good Life in Virginia said...

birthday well wishes to CHAR from erin in virginia.

may i come and enjoy some of dave's lasagne?

Tess Kincaid said...

Happy Birthday, Char!

Cream dried chipped beef...now I haven't thought of that in years. We used to have it on toast growing up!

Daryl said...

I am laughing poor Dave .. Happy Birthday Char and many more, I would say your big sister has mellowed but I know she's still got that impishness she had as a kid ...why am I sure that the hand you arent showing us was making devil horns to hold over little sis's head?

Deb said...

What a lovely tribute to your sister! Really, I can read the love you have for her. (well, except for the closet part!)
Happy Birthday Char!!!

GailO said...

Happy Birthday dear sister! Now 50 sounds young to me...my sister will have a 60th birthday this July...

What visions you bring up when you mention chipped beef on toast!...one of the few meals I hated when I was young!

cieldequimper said...

Bon anniversaire !

Anonymous said...

I love seeing the two of you together. I was the oldest too, and NEVER would have won that contest. Even if I locked all the rest of them in a closet for a week.

Happy Birthday Char - so far my fifties have been my favorite decade, so I hope you love yours too!

The Weaver of Grass said...

What a lovely birthday tribute!
Now I wonder what she will say about you on your birthday - that would be interesting in the light of your story about your childhood exploits!

Laura ~Peach~ said...

Happy birthday sister :) hope you have a wonderful one!

Treasia Stepp said...

Happy Birthday to your sweet sis. There's just no other bond such as sisterhood. I count my blessings I have a little sister. Boy did I ever pick on her.

Great idea your mom had with the dinner. I might have to try that with our kids.

emily said...

happy birthday mom! and what a fantastic present i got you ;/

Rosezilla (Tracie Walker) said...

Oh, sisters! Mine locked me in an outhouse once, but I don't think it had anything to do with me being nice...but did you see the pic i put up of her sitting on my head? Geesh! (Now she has 4 daughters so the fun begins all over again). And yes, we are very close. Happy Birthday to your sis.

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Mary said...

Awww, I always love childhood stories! (I was an only child) Happy birthday to your sis! :)
xoxo,
Mary

Shelley said...

A sweet & funny tribute to your nicer sister!!

e.o.w. said...

How much fun you've had! It's wonderful you're still so close.

Sue said...

Hi Kate...love your little wool hat and that's a beautiful scarf...

Brenda Pruitt said...

What a sweet photo of sisters. One that will withstand the years with your smiles.
Brenda

Country Girl said...

Welcome to Sharkbytes and American Way Farm. Glad you stopped on by today.

Yes, Char does read my blog. She had a nice birthday, albeit a quiet one.