Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Tuesday: In a Word . . . or Two

Six of Seven Sisters
Janet, Lynn, Marcia, Jane, Chris, Lila (missing: Rachel)

Janet: Organizer. I imagine “Everything has a place and everything is in its place” was first whispered after someone walked through Janet’s home. It’s incredible. She has vaulted ceilings with hundreds of antiques and collectibles displayed. (My favorite is the little, wire, canary, birdcage once used in mines to test the air for the miners.) Nothing has dust. Everything is artfully arranged . . . even in her boys’ bedroom. Tidy. Organized. Clean. That’s Janet.

Lynn: Self-taught. When she wanted to learn photography, she bought a book. When she wanted to make cheese, she bought a book. When she wanted to be a transcriptionist, she bought the book. When she wanted to quilt, she bought a book. When she wanted to get published, she bought a book. And then…she wrote not one book, but three.

Marcia: Think-tank. If you want an idea, Marcia has one. If you want a suggestion, go to Marcia. She is constantly gathering information, whether it’s at a conference in Japan, a learning activity in the ocean off Florida, or a brain clinic in Boston. She doesn’t just sit on information either, she uses and dispenses it. She’s constantly giving people opportunities to learn more or offering problem-solving solutions. It’s of little wonder that students seek her out when they’re in a bind.

Chris: Versatile. It is not uncommon for her to wake up and fix a breakfast of eggs and bacon and cake or pie, and then head out to the corrals to doctor or brand cattle. Then it’s not uncommon for her to head up to the hills and move their cattle on horseback to another pasture or go to the livestock sale and weigh-in cattle. Before she goes to bed she may or may not bake a three-layer cake or arrange a wedding bouquet. Truly. All in one day. You can see why it kinked her rhythm last year when her horse rolled with her and broke her hip.

Lila: Beautifier. First she drew. Then she painted. Then she carved. And all the while she decorated. Her mantels, walls, floors – all are a work of art. On the wood-floor entryway to their home she painted a large tree. Each branch is labeled with a couple in her family; each leaf is a child, each bloom is a grandchild. She is constantly redoing and renewing her surroundings.

Rachel: Doer. Give her a trial and she’ll conquer it. Give her a job and she’ll do it. Give her a problem and she’ll solve it. Give her a child and she’ll teach it. Give her another child and she’ll love it. And then she’ll write and tell me about it in an e-mail and make me laugh.

I love my sisters.  Very much.   "We know one another's faults, virtues, catastrophes, mortifications, triumphs, rivalries, desires, and how long we can each hang by our hands to a bar.  We have been banded together under pack codes and tribal laws."  ~Rose Macaulay

15 comments:

Leslie said...

What a beautiful photo and description of your sisters!

Tyler - Danielle - Emree said...

It was fun to get to know all of your sisters a little better. I have met most of them and the ones I know are amazing. I hope I can always have a strong bond with my sister.

Deanna/Mimi said...

I had no idea that you and Lila were sisters. She is one of my very favorite people on earth that I have associated with. I think the world of her husband too. Does success ever run in your family...successful at anything and everything. I am impressed. Now I know I was in the wrong line when "they" were handing out "gifts." Very choice post Jane...just as you are: CHOICE!!

Cali said...

Thank you mom. That was beautiful. I love how you see the good in people SOOO easily.

Derek-Jenny-Kaitlynd-Ethan-Dylan said...

Love it.

Lynn said...

Well said, except you forgot yourself. Jane, you are the gatherer. You gather hens, you gather friends, you gather vegetable baskets, you gather children, you gather students, you gather knowledge and you gather spirit. We all enjoy being gathered to your home.

Susan said...

Oh, I love this post and I especially love Lynn's comment!!

Jill said...

Wow, how did I not know you had so many sisters?! I would love to know how they would describe you!

melanie said...

Cali is right, spot on. You always see the good in others. Always.

Lynn's comment is perfect too. You are a 'gatherer', a gatherer of hearts.

Miss you.

Julie said...

Beautiful sisters and beautiful words about them. I love what Lynn said about you. Definitely a gatherer. You do see the good in others around you and we all feel loved because of it.

Lucy said...

Oh...I love sisters. I used to have a label for each one of us, and I could still probably come up with one word but as we age, we all kind of surprise each other by changing a bit. Fun post.

Grandma & Grandpa said...

What wonderful tributes to your sisters! Nice to learn more about your family. It was such fun to meet Lynn at Scott and Melanie's new ward. Her comments about you were perfect! What a privilege to know you. A joyful gathering it must have been!

Elizabeth said...

There are seven girls in my family too. And two boys.

I bet they would have wonderful things to say about you!

Barb said...

I'm grateful to have even one sister. I tell Steven all the time how lucky he is to have three.

michelle said...

Like Barb, I'm grateful to have one sister. I can't imagine having six! You are so blessed. And I just love what Lynn said about you, Jane.