Happy Birthday Baby Bunny!

Photo: Anna Cervova

With children of her own, my baby sister no longer qualifies as a baby. But I sometimes think of her that way nevertheless.

Growing up, I wanted a sister like I wanted my grandparents to arrive on Christmas morning. (We couldn't open presents until they arrived . . . and my grandmother had many sterling qualities but punctuality was not among them.) Finally, finally, FINALLY she arrived (the sister, not the grandmother. Though she always showed up, too, eventually.) But the sister finally arrived early one cold November morning. And it's true what they say . . . good things do come to those who wait! She was everything I hoped she'd be and lots of things I couldn't even have imagined.

A poet once told me -- I no longer remember the context of the statement but the statement itself made a lasting impression -- "If a Scorpio woman wants your man, pack your things and go. Because she will win every time." My sister is a Scorpio. (Luckily, we have never wanted the same man!) And she is beautiful, with such a striking resemblance to one of those Hemingway girls (Muriel? Margeaux? I always get them mixed up.) that people used to stop her on the street with, "Excuse me. But aren't you Margeaux Hemingway?" (Or maybe it was Muriel. Whichever.)

She is also fiery, with a temper that has earned her the family nickname of the Badger. (As in: "Take this coffee in to the Badger . . . just open the door a crack and poke it through with a stick. Then step away quickly and quietly.") Mostly, when she gets in "a mood," we try to stay out of her way . . . unless we have coffee, wine or chocolate with which to bargain for safe passage. So far, no one has ever lost a limb . . . but we all are wary just the same. It's not unusual for us to have M&Ms in our pockets "just in case." (Okay . . . I made that last part up. M&Ms wouldn't even cause a distraction. If there's bargaining to be done with the Badger, you'd best have the Good Stuff.)

The point is, if most Scorpio women are like my sister, I'm inclined to think what the poet said is true . . . a Scorpio woman can have any man she wants, including yours. (But again, it's not all bad news . . . my sister found a keeper in my brother-in-law - that would be the coolest brother-in-law on the planet, for those of you who are regulars here IDW [In Deborah's World] . . . so she isn't going to want your man.)

So. We've established beauty, passion and great taste in men . . . er, make that husbands! . . . as three of my sister's attributes. But she is also the best secret keeper on the planet. She is tolerant and will defend the undertrodden and underrepresented. She is brave. She is loyal. And . . . well, trust me. If you're a regular here IDW, you'll be reading much more about her as time goes on. Because she's one of the most important people in my life. My sister. And happily, one of my best friends, too.

I love you Sissy Ellen . . . and the palm tree is to remind you of the birthday party you had poolside in Antigua. Remember? When you could swim from one end of the pool and back again without ever coming up for air? Now that you live in the Snow Belt, I thought you might appreciate the reminder! Happy Birthday!!