Sisters

Patty, Cindy and Terri

"Friends are the siblings God never gave us." ~ Mencius (372 BC - 289 BC), Chinese philosopher

I always wanted a sister. Growing up with two brothers and no sisters, I always wished for one.  And then I left home for Kansas State University and found 63 sisters.  That, plus one (me!), was the number of women who lived in Smurthwaite Scholarship House. 

In exchange for cooking and housekeeping chores, we scholarship students paid a much reduced fee for our housing. Tales of cooking disasters perpetrated on our fellow residents have long since passed into the legends and lore of the House but the bonds of friendship remain. 

This morning I met two Smurthwaite friends, Terri and Patty, for a hike along General James A. Van Fleet State Park Trail, a trail Tim and I had walked earlier this week. 

And it was just as if we were still sitting on the steps of the House, chatting about our day while waiting for the dinner bell to ring. 

Only this time, we talked of our lives--husbands, boyfriend, children and parents, jobs, retirement, volunteerism, art, books, movies, politics and, of course, our faith. 

Faith has been the common denominator between us even though our paths through life have differed. It's what has sustained us through difficult times in our marriages, the raising of teenagers, the passing of parents, hard health issues and a host of other challenges. 

Alpaca Farm next to the Trail

So I'm thankful to call Patty and Terri my sisters, for indeed they are.