You wonder where I get it from? No matter how down I’m feeling or how hopeless or discouraged they always make me see the positive in life. When I tell them I feel I have no power or control over my life they always point out how that’s not true.
In my darkest days in the hospital when I was suffering the most 37 years ago, the hospital would grant overnight passes and my older sister would come to pick me up for the weekend. She would arrive dressed in bright cheery clothes, always with a big smile for me or anyone else around. She was literally like a ray of sunshine cutting a swath through all the darkness and depression in that hospital.
I didn’t have a lot to look forward to in those days but I always looked forward to seeing her. And 37 years later neither of my sisters have changed. They are always smiling, ever ready with encouragement and support. When my dad was alive I used to tell him all my problems, he was genuinely curious about my delusions and what I was thinking. I could tell him everything about what I going through and he listened.
I learned that I can’t tell my sisters my weirdest delusions but it doesn’t matter. That’s what shrinks are for. In the meantime they are great to be around, in fact my sisters birthday was on February 12th and I am taking her to the movies as a present and maybe dinner. She likes to celebrate her birthday alone or with friends usually which makes sense. I only see her once a week but she sees her friends all the time and she’s known them more than 40 years.
I just somehow won out in the family lottery and I ended up with a family who always wants the best for me and will put out the extra energy and effort to help me in life.
