As the years went on, the younger sibling continued to put a crimp in her plans. Number 1 Daughter was neat and orderly. Her bed was always made, her toys neatly arranged on her shelves and her clothes put away tidily. Not so, her younger sister. It was sheer torture to have to live with a budding Cat Lady.
All through high school, Number 1 Daughter was doomed to share a room with a hoarder. At one point she went to the parents in tears, insisting that the only solution was to have E-Z-Way Refuse Service back their truck up to the bedroom window and shovel out all the sister's crap. Needless to say, it was not a match made in heaven.
Of course, Number 1 Daughter did get her revenge on occasion. Saturday was cleaning day at the Larew house. While my brother and I were kept busy doing all the chores, my older sister was busy making beautiful charts and graphs of what needed to be done and the schedule for doing them. Fools! We were fools!
It's amazing how sisters end up on opposite ends of the neatness spectrum. Lord knows my older sister suffered severely because of my lack of order. The day Number 1 Daughter left for college was perhaps the happiest day of her life. She was free! No more sharing a room with a slob!
So on this, my sister's birthday, I offer this heartfelt apology....
Annie... I'm sorry I was born a slob!
It was never within my power to learn your tidy ways.
I regret the angst I caused you.
I love you, but I could never live with you!
Then again, when push comes to shove... who's the one with the cat?
Happy Birthday, Annie!
