My sister Laurie's Birthday

Today is my sister Laurie's birthday.  She is 8 years older than I. This isn't so much a blog about her birthday but a blog of my memories of her.

My fondest memory of her is that she taught me to read by letting me get into bed with her and reading her Dudley Dooright Sheets.  Most likely this was on Saturday mornings.  Nell and Snidely Whiplash and of course Horse were some of my first words I read. 

Laurie had a friend named Becky Beauvais.  Becky was always around..one time Laurie and Becky took me to the Big Beach.  This was the ocean side of Plum Island not the basin side that our home was on...  So that's why I called it the Big Beach.  We were having fun I imagine until a tiny bug flew in my ear.  A little tiny sand fly.  Laurie tried getting it out and so did Becky.  It was so far down in my ear I could hear it buzzing and it was itching and I was terrified it was going to go places that would end up needing surgery to retrieve the dang fly..  So we started to walk back home and I was screaming crying and a man came out of his house and asked what was wrong.  After hearing that he looked in my ear stuck his finger in and pulled the fly out.   Ohhh what a relief..

Not a good memory here but when I was around 7 I was in the bathroom one morning getting ready for school and there was a hand written letter laying on the counter.  I took the time to read it when I should have been brushing my teeth.  I could hear my mother yelling for me to hurry up so I wouldn't miss the bus.  But I was ignoring her because the letter was from Laurie to my mother stating that she was running away from home.  She asked my mother not to tell my father because he would be so disappointed.   I was so scared..I didn't know if I should tell my mother or not.  Well I never did tell my mother and she eventually found it later that day I'm sure. 

I can't recall how long after that happened that I saw Laurie again. She did move back home many years later..I think I was 15...She brought her black lab named Ebon and her cat named Whiskey with her..We had a few good years. Then I joined the Navy and she hooked up with some horrible man that got her addicted to drugs to the point she didn't even recognize me or want a relationship with me anymore.  John Kouchalaris..What a bad person he was and maybe still is..not sure if he is alive at this point.

My sister Mary and I went to MA when I was in my mid 20's to help Laurie out.  She accepted the help and moved to FL with the rest of my family.  She has been sober and drug free for many years and I love her to death.  She makes me laugh a lot. 

She suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis something my Nana Jean suffered from too.  She has a funny little dog named Talulah.

I wish Laurie many more Happy Birthdays.  I LOVE YOU!

P.S.  THE P.S. on the letter Laurie wrote said  "sorry I took the toothpaste"