Me and Cory Ann
Although Sister Appreciation Day falls on August 4th this year, I got my present five months early.
Yesterday, my baby sis posted this on Facebook.
Things my sister Jenny Hansen taught me:
- How to savor good coffee
- How to put on nylons
- To always order my bacon extra crispy, no one likes limp drippy bacon
- How to apply eyeliner without a mirror
- How to appreciate good wine
- Not to fight dirty but that fighting is okay sometimes
- A good pedicure solves many woes
- Best ways to get rid of a headache
- Babies are always a miracle
- Hold on tight in your 20’s, everything changes
- Always try to be professional, respectful and kind
- Life begins at 30.
- Plan for the worst, hope for the best.
- How to write a good résumé, keep my online presence complete and up to date, leave a job with grace and gratitude.
- You need sisters to get through life make sure they know how awesome they are and that you love them so much.
Oh… And don’t forget to send your thank you cards. 🙂
I’ll admit it…I cried. (And pulled out the stack of thank you notes I haven’t yet sent this year.)
You see, after fifteen years as my dad’s youngest child, Cory arrived in the family and rocked my world. I took care of this darling sweet colicky baby twelve hours a day for about six weeks that summer.
It didn’t matter that we didn’t live in the same house, or have the same mommy. This was my beloved baby sis…and she still is.
Some day, when I’m not all choked up, I’ll do a post about the lessons she has taught me. Suffice it to say, 25+ years later, she’s all grown up and married herself, chasing dreams and making her world a better place. And I’m so very proud of her.
Do you have a sister that rocks your world? OK, Brother’s Day is also the first week in August…we can talk about them too.
What have you learned from the brothers and sisters in your life, whether they be biological or the ones of your heart? Which of the 15 lessons above is your favorite? Enquiring minds LOVE to know these things here at More Cowbell!
Jenny
Turbo Cool Stuff: For the writers among you, Shannon Donnelly shared an amazing Synopsis Checklist over at Writers In The Storm today!
Jenny Hansen's Blog 
Holy Sister Cowbell, Jenny. This got me all choked up, too.
As for my favorite “lesson,” it’s the last one. I’d need a full blog post on or around August 2nd to list the things I appreciate about and have been taught by my four biological sister, my Bestie, Sherry Isaac, and others I’ve met who are sisters of my heart. Many of them I haven’t yet met in the flesh.
[After yesterday’s Cowbell Shenanigans, I may have to do contortionist-like moves to get you to look me in the eyes at DFWCon, but I’ll do what it takes. You have been warned. ;-)]
That said, can you initiate an adopt-a-sister day at DFWCon and teach me how to put on eyeliner without a mirror? I’m still at the must-pull-my-eyelid-to-my-hairline stage. Please and thank-you.
Thanks for this reminder to let all the strong, good women in my life know how much I appreciate them.
I appreciate you, Chiquita! Your humor, your snark, your strength, your life and techie lessons. You rock!
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Gloria, you need have no fears…I can look anyone in the eye, unless they’re giving me a compliment. 🙂
Things to do at DFWCon:
1. Protect the bartender’s clothing during the evening room parties – those WANAs get wild.
2. See if we can push two tables together at keynotes cuz there’s so many of us.
3. Set up a lunchtime eyeliner tutorial.
We’ll keep this list going as we get closer. 🙂
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I’m interested in the eyeliner trick, too. A podcast, maybe!
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The problem with a podcast is I have to begin it with no makeup on! 🙂
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I’m choked up too, Jenny – Can’t post what I learned from my sister – but sure loved yours…
Cherish her – Sisters sometimes leave you….
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Ahhh, Laura. I know there are no words.
If you decide you want to put some together, they’ll find a home right here for Sister Appreciation Day in August. 🙂
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Great stuff, Jenny! Has me contemplating what my brother (almost 3 years older) taught me.
And as I discovered on my own, life totally begins at 30….and it gets better and better as I close in on 40….
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Yes, and it will keep getting better still, Steve. At least until things begin falling apart body-wise. LOL…
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Now I wish I had a sister.
I still don’t know how to put on eyeliner (with or without a mirror). When we meet in person, I’m going to need you to teach me 🙂
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Sweet Marcy! Well, I only have the one…but as I said to Kathy, I’ll bet you have sisters of your heart (like Lisa). 🙂
OK, in addition to the great big hug and the romp with the Great Danes, we’ve got an eye makeup session in our future.
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Love this. Love my sister.
I love my life after 30. And 40…
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I know, it just keeps getting better after 35, doesn’t it? 🙂
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How sweet! ❤ I haven't seen my sister in a year and a half, but I'm hoping this summer I'll be able to get together with her 🙂
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It’s hard not to see our sibs for a while. I don’t get to see any of mine very often, but I talk to them A LOT. 🙂
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It is a blessing to have a sister! I went out with mine just this last Friday night! There are so few people out there that share common experiences and have unconditional love for us. Your sister sounds really special! What a nice surprise!
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It was a lovely surprise, Susie! And how wonderful that you get to see your sister often. 🙂
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Not often enough! 🙂
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Funny, the first thing I thought of after “Oh, that’s so sweet!” was: “I’d like to learn how to put on eyeliner without a mirror, too!” And then I see I’m not alone, LOL!
What a special relationship you two have; I’m glad you cherish one another. I’m an only child, so sadly I have no story to share. :C
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I’ll be you have sisters of the heart, Kathy. I’ve seen firsthand what a fab friend you are. 🙂
Geesh, we all know where our eyes are…we can put on makeup without a mirror! I’ll look at whether I can figure out how to put this on the blog…
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I have trouble not poking myself in the eye (esp. with the mascara brush) WITH a mirror, LOL!
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LOL. That’s because you’re thinking more about how it looks than how it feels. 🙂
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I have no sister but I have a cousin who is like a sister to me. She’s 3 years younger but she still taught me some things (and still is). My big bro definitely taught me a few things, like how to avoid getting caught when you go wading in the forbidden stream (make sure you get all the mud off before you put your socks and shoes back on).
(May I steal this idea for a blog post? I’m gonna do a list about my bro.)
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Of course you can, Kassandra! All siblings should be appreciated. 🙂
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I had a sister. I’d like to say she had her good points but her wake caused turmoil. In retrospect I know where a lot of her behavior as an adult came from. After my mother’s death she was spoiled. When responsibility came she didn’t know how to deal with it. When people ask what she died of, I say “Stupidity”. She believed that she came first and doctors didn’t understand that a nursing home where she could receive 24/7 care was inferior to being at home. Her children love her, her ex-husband has some love and her widower, he’s still locked in. Me, I had my own baggage. Maybe I could have helped.
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Tom, we always feel like that when we look back. What you’re not saying here is that she really didn’t work to help herself. As much as we want to step over the people we love to fix what needs fixing, they need to do it themselves. I’m sorry she didn’t. 😦
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I have a younger sister – we shared a room as kids, and she was more of the “troublemaker” than I was, so it caused some friction when we were kids.
But as we got older, we came to appreciate each other a whole lot more. (Not sharing a room any more helped.)
What does she teach me? My sister has this awesome sense of self. She doesn’t apologize for who she is, she doesn’t change to make people like her. And she shouldn’t have to, because she is an incredible, loyal friend to those fortunate enough to call her one.
And, she knows how to rock an outfit. http://lemonhearted.tumblr.com/ 🙂
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It’s fun to see your eyes on someone else. 🙂 Those are great lessons from your sis. You’ll have to forward me what she says about YOU.
And, yes, I’m delighted I never had to share a room till I got to college and it felt like an adventure. LOL.
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Hey Sis,
You have been on my mind for days and I know you’ve had a rough winter healthwise so I really wanted you to know how much you mean to me. I’ve always looked up to you and valued your opinion even when it was hard to hear. I look back and realize 9 times out of 10 you were right… Darn it 🙂
I’m so luck to have you.
Big hugs from a little Sis.
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You’re getting me all choked up again… We’re lucky to have each other.
I’ll take your hug and raise you one. And the one thing we left off the list is that every unexpected expense ends up being $1,000. I don’t know why, but they’re always between $800-1,200!
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I love this post, so sweet. Siblings are the best. I have one big brother, he’s better at the big brother role now than he used to be. Life begins at 30. <– this is so true. If you can put on eye liner w/o a mirror, I'm requesting a video show and tell please 🙂
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Sidney, I’m getting enough requests that I might have to figure out how to jury rig up a video on the subject. 🙂
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This is awesome. My sister lives in Florida and I really don’t spend enough time with her.
I love #3 here about bacon. I totally agree!
My sis needs to teach me how to cook – she makes an awesome sauce. I suck at it!
Phil
http://www.blog.theregularguynyc.com
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LOL…limp bacon just won’t cut it. Especially before two cups of coffee. LOL.
Is this sauce she makes from scratch?? Yummy.
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Yup. She makes a killer sauce and meatballs!
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How sweet! My sister and I didn’t get along until we were adults, but we love each other. I’m lucky enough to have a few girlfriends who live nearby–they are my I hope my girls stay close enough to teach each other things the way you and your sister have.
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Sheesh, that’s what I get for trying to type with a small, wiggly dog in my lap. LOL. I was trying to say that my girlfriends are like sisters to me. Squirmy dog…. 🙂
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I love it, Diana! And I hope your girls are close too. I also hope they won’t have the age and geographical distance to overcome that Cory and I have had to.
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So far, they’re making the 8-year spread work for them. It’s not 15 years, but …
College is around the corner for my older one. I’m glad you and your sister are so close!
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Great post, Jenny! You’re lucky to have such a great sister – and she’s clearly smart, because she loves you and listens to you!! (Seriously – what a blessing to have such a great sister.)
I have a little brother who streaked my parents’ dinner parties with a tennis racket on his butt yelling “LOOK AT ME I’M A WAFFLE!” (This is a true story. He was four. It stands out because it’s also one of the few such ideas I didn’t plant in his head…)
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You made an entire table of WANA pals crack up over this comment, Susan! I notice where the flow of mischief-making ideas came from! Your brother sounds like a keeper and so is my darling baby sis. 🙂
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I love this Jenny! And I love my sister! Lately, our roles have been reversed where I’ve been the stronger one with my life together listening to her and showering her with treats to bring small smiles. I should share with her reasons I love her because she is fantastic! She’s a teacher, and her district was just awarded the best school district for this new reading program, and she’s been a big person spearheading it! So proud!!!
Your sister sounds like she’s incredibly proud of you too! 😀
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Oh, I love that, Jess! Especially that she’s helping children learn to read. Everytime I see my daughter read, I smile. 🙂
And yes, I’m very proud of my sis.
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Holy Cowbells, Jenny – I’m totally stealing this idea. Although it’s going to have to simmer for a while while I try to think of what I learned from a scene-stealing younger sister! Hmm, maybe I’ll go for a list of things I love about her instead. Would work for my brother, too.
Anyway, thanks so much for sharing your relationship with her. All of us with loving siblings are so lucky. And Susan Spann, you made me laugh!
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She made me laugh too! Especially that she was the queen instigator in most of the crime. LOL. 🙂
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What a list! What a sister … both of you! This is the way family should be. *sniffle*
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She’s wonderful, Patricia. 🙂
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My sister and I are very close, too. She finds her way into many of my posts… I’m grateful God gave her to me.
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That’s lovely, Kitt. Does she know it?
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Absolutely. We’re very close.
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Well, this one got me all sniffly and teary-eyed. i LOVE my lil sister. Yep. I now need to write her a note. Who needs to wait for August?
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Awwww…I’ll get she’ll love that note, Brinda. 🙂
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My favorites are #9 and #15. I love my babies and my lil sister! And I am so close to my two sons as I am with my sister. I cannot imagine life without them. Nope. Can’t. And I tell them that all the time. 🙂
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Sweet, Karen! I’m glad you still have your boys fluttering around. 🙂
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