My Sister Jayne

 Sadly my dear sweet sister Jayne passed away in March.

 

Jayne fought cancer for a couple of years…

fighting a tough and heroic fight and

I admired her great strength and bravery through it all.   

There were many days when we would chat about things,

                                                                         like sisters do,

                                                                  and 

there were other days, 

when we would just cry, like sisters do.  

The sister/friend bond is a strong one and forever. 

In the end, Jayne was at peace,  

but it’s so hard to make peace with saying goodbye

to someone you love. 

No matter how many years you have together, 

you never have enough. 

I’m still thinking that I’m going to see her,

talk to her, see a comment from her pop up on FB.

I hope I never lose the feeling that Jayne is still with me.

Growing up, I shared a bedroom with Jayne.  

She was the best roommate... 

the proverbial teenage drama around sharing clothes was never an issue.  

It probably was because Jayne quickly grew past my 5' 4" inches 

to her lovely lanky 5' 9". 

She would have looked pretty silly wearing my pants. 

I remember Jayne in our bedroom at night…

lying in the twin bed next to me, 

       the two of us chatting about our day, 

                                                                             as sisters do,

                                                         then wishing each other   

                                                            goodnight.  sleep tight.

                                             

Anywhoo...

Jayne was a gentle and beautiful soul, 

loved  travel, her dogs and her family.   

She was not only a great sister…

she was a great Aunt….

literally and figuratively. 

She was a wonderful and loving Aunt to 

Chelsea, Colin, Brianna 

and Natalie, 

                                                                                 Natalie's  2nd bday

 

but also a Great Aunt  to Chelsea’s Ansley and Presley.  

These kids were Jayne’s pride and joy through all the years.  

They all knew how much she loved them and

Jayne knew how much they loved her.   

It was a mutual love society. 

Back in the day,  Jayne and I both took Spanish in high school.

                                                  She was Juanita and I was Carlotta.  

We were far from fluent 

but that didn’t stop the daily Juanita - Carlotta convos.  

During  dinner, the spanish language was

 sliced, diced and butchered more than our food.

Juanita pass the pollo, por favor.  

But Carlotta, this is a burger???

Besides known as mi amiga, Juanita…

Jayne was family famous

for the time she kissed a lady bug and it crawled down her throat.

(Okay, she was  3)

Hence her family nickname, Jaynie bug .

Whenever I see a ladybug,

 I  think of Jayne…

we all do. 

Family stories and sweet memories of those we love and

keep deep in our hearts 

must be passed down.

Now it’s time to tell Ansley and Presley about the time their 

 Aunt Jayne swallowed a ladybug.  

Pass it down.

Our sister Jayne will be greatly missed by us all

but we are comforted  knowing she is with our parents.

“We grew to the same beat of our mother’s heart.”

The day Jayne died, I sadly went to bed that night, 

closed my eyes and 

I clearly saw Jayne's face...

the side of her face

the same way she looked 

when I would look over and say goodnight to her from my bed.  

Buenos Noches, Juanita.

Goodnight Jayne. 

                                                                                              Sleep tight.

                                                                                       I miss you.