Sunday, March 8, 2009

Christmas Photo: Three Sisters

We stare straight ahead,
smiling at the photographer.
The camera loves Carolyn,
with her high, photogenic cheekbones.
Catherine flashes that megawatt smile
that can light up any room.
I stand erect,
posture-perfect me.

We look lovely.
Stunning, actually.
The camera has been kind this time.
With the Christmas tree as backdrop,
we stand ready to face another year.
Another decade even.

We have stood by one another through
births
deaths
the terrible twos
bouts of depression
unemployment
graduate degrees
adolescence
breast cancer
engagements
marital conflict
divorce
surgery
holidays
house hunting
moving
college graduations
courtships
love affairs
marriages
hysterectomies
broken hearts
grandchildren
career set-backs
financial hardships
and economic downturns.

We have traveled together through China.
We have toured the southern coast of Spain.
We have visited France, Italy, and Germany together.
We have criss-crossed the borders into Mexico and Canada.

Three sisters by marriage.
Smiling.
Staring into the camera.

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