Friday, May 18, 2012

life is like that...

Life. It can be funny at times!

I grew up in the country...one of five sisters and one brother.  We attended the country school nearby...and a country church in the same neighbourhood.  Not far away lived another family with five girls and one boy...who attended the same school and church as I did.  My sisters were good friends with some of the girls of the other family.  I was in the same class as their boy...and we had a lot of fun together in our senior high years (particularly German class).  We were all part of the same youth group...


...and several from each family were on this particular outing in 1971.   As time moved on...many of the siblings from each family scattered...and the ties were not what they once were.   
The youngest of the other family was the same age as my ‘little brother’...always dramatic and never at a loss for words, as I recall.  I taught her in girl's club once upon a time.  I remember she brought a yummy dill dip to an event.  (Who said we only remember the big stuff?)  I also remember that she took the prize for scripture memory!  Eventually she married and moved to the interior of our province.  What a surprise to re-connect with her through Blogdom in the past year or two.   You can go pay Karen a visit at her blog called Ocean Soul.  She has plenty of time to visit these days...since she is on an imposed 'staycation'  following major surgery. 
We’ve had many good laughs over things from the distant past...since we re-connected these last few years.  I love reading her blog...especially when she tells of friends and family that I know.  Not long ago Karen posted photos of a family vacation...a trip to Mexico with all her siblings and their spouses.  I couldn’t help but smile...
 (Karen ~ far left)
...since the photo looked strangely similar to one we took on a family cruise with all my siblings few years ago.  How many families have five sisters and one brother? 


And how did it happen that both guys are reclining for the family photo op?  I know my brother wasn’t even a little amused by the way the photographer lined us up...but his sisters thought it was quite funny!
 
Who knows?  Life is like that. 

Karen gave me permission to 'borrow' her photo...and to share the tale of the two families.  And I give you permission to go wish Karen all the best as she recuperates. 

Have a great weekend!

20 comments:

  1. Thank you for this post because I did not know the connection between you. One of Karen's posts is an all-time favorite of mine and is still being featured in my sidebar. What great family photos! At least your brother didn't have to lie at your feet! Ha! Off to wish Karen a speedy recovery...

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  2. Hope that Karen reads here because I am getting nothing but error messages trying to leave a message there. Praying for you, Karen. You've got great spunk and I'm so glad that your girls know their way around the kitchen! Rest lots...

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  3. Oh how great is that Judy! Love those photos next to each other. What a hoot. Have a great weekend.

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  4. Well I would never of known that my high school crush would of been portrayed as a celebrity upon the ocean tides.
    That is such a cute post and we are all celebrating that Karen is recovering.

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  5. What a great story Judy! I love that both your familys have taken the effort to be together and take these wonderful precious pictures. Your brothers have a great sense of humour. I too have enjoyed reading Ocean Soul's blog - it's wonderful.

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  6. I was trying to remember the connection between you and karen and so this post really makes me happy and maybe now it will be cemented in my mind.
    How amazing that your two families had the same sibling line up.
    Love the photos!!

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  7. Good fotos! My hair really WAS dark brown in 1971... And surely our photographer didn't move from the high seas to the beaches of his native country? I wish Karen all the best in her recovery. I hope she has had a good recliner in her house!

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  8. If your brother was unamused he covered it well with a beautiful smile.

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  9. Well the pose is quite funny in my opinion! Hoping Karen will soon be back to her lively self and that soon there will be sister reunions to post for both of you.

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  10. I still think it is hilarious that we have the "same" family photos...and what a blast from the past seeing you guys in the old church parking lot...now there's a youth group with no shortage of hilarious and crazy stories! And thanks for all the prayers and well wishes, it truly makes a difference! Y'all rock the blogosphere!

    Good thing our brothers are such good sports, eh?

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  11. Wonderful family photos! I think it's awesome that you and your friend have met again through your blogs. Enjoy the holiday weekend. Blessings, Pamela

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  12. That photo setup is hilarious! I think my daughter would enjoy it but I'm not sure her 4 brothers would cooperate :)

    Now I'm off to visit your friend! have a wonderful holiday weekend Judy!

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  13. Those two photos make me smile! We're just three sisters and a brother, but I'll bet he'd be reclining too!

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  14. So now I know your connection to Ocean Soul... and such an interesting one too! I can't imagine what it would be like for a guy to grow up with five sisters. I hope you all spoiled him a bit too.

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  15. Lovely to "meet" you Judy. I found you from Karen's blogroll. Amazing similarities to Karen's family - the family portraits are me smile! My name is Karen, I don't come from a family of 5 sisters although I have one brother, but I do have six daughters and two sons all still at home in sunny Australia.

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  16. What a fun connection. And fun to find through blogging. Love the photos with the guys highlighted in such poses.

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  17. Finally getting around to visit! Love the two pictures of the two families! Glad you have time for front porch parties with all the "busyness" of the farm going on. Sounds like fun!

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  18. I loved seeing these two pictures of five girls. What fun for the two of you to reconnect after so many years. What a blessing to both of you to still have your sisters and brothers all in good health. Great post!

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  19. Great pictures...both of them. I will go visit Karen !

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  20. hahaha, this makes me laugh out loud! Forgot about this picture!!! :)

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'The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.'
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson