That’s me on the left. I know you already know this cause my mouth is open and my hands are moving. (cut off his damn hands and the boy can’t talk!) That’s my sister, Cindy, on the right, patiently waiting for me to shut up. She knew I would run out of gas and she would get a word in edgewise. Even then she knew me better than I’ve known myself.

I have fumbled like hell trying to find the right words for this article. There is so much to say that can’t be. So many of those fleeting moments of knowing that passed between us that cannot be put into words. But, if you don’t know this lady then you are the poorer for it. If you talk to her in a rock concert she will make you feel like you’re the only one there. She has struggled with her demons and won; and made it look easy.

Jesus said you must pass through the narrow gate. We had to go through such a narrow gate when we were children. It was tight and hard to get through; we thought at times we were going to die. But we made it and we both came out the other side different people. Different, but with a bond that cannot be broken. We live 600 miles apart and have for more than 30 years, but when we do get together it’s like no time has passed. We can pick up right where we left off being Bro’ and Sis’.

Cindy has 2 beautiful children and a devoted husband. She and her husband have a business in Dallas and have been successful at it for 30 years. Today she is going to college while still running that business. She is always there for our Mom and has been all her life. These good things in her life are no accident. She had every opportunity and plenty of reasons to throw all of this away at any point in time. These things are the result of good choices and patient living. Faith in God and never giving up are hallmarks of Cindy’s life. Don’t underestimate her. Don’t you dare! She can stand her ground and stare you down until you see the futility of your cause. But she can also run with the 3 Stooges and N’Yuk,N’Yuk,N’Yuk with the best of them.

While lots of time has passed that we have spent apart, there are a few things I remember.

At the risk of offending Billy Joel, here goes:

There were Hippies, Yippies, Yuppies and Guppies (some of them we flushed down the toilet!), Santa Claus and Christmas trees and toys for you and me, The Wizard of Oz (Spank those Monkeys!), Three Stooges Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner, Fractured Fairy Tales and 10 Commandments. City to city and town to town never knowin’ where we’d settle down. The Twist, The Monkey (dancing monkey) and the Mashed Potato? The Beatles, The Monkeys( different monkeys but spank "em anyway!), The Partridge Family, Carole King and Dr. King and Don King (What’s with that hair!!?) and Stephen King(brrr). Monopoly (you always won), School (I want to be the teacher this time!), air guitars and real guitars. Popcorn and Coke-you go ask for it, I did it last time! Mud on the neighbor’s wall (it stuck real good!), spittin’ watermelon seeds, swinging on the swing set, chasing Friskie (now where the hell did that dog go?) Siamese cats and prank phone calls (Is Leroy Dere?) Man in the moon, man on the moon, the Kennedys. Brown Eyed Girl and Green Eyed Lady, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition (I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in). Card tricks and how’s Tricks? And Trix are for Kids! Grandma trips and business trips and trips where we never had to leave the farm! And more I cannot remember………..

As I said, the right words not only don’t come easy – they’re not coming at all. I just love you Cindy. You have always thought of me as your big brother but, truth be told, you’re the one that’s the better of us two. You have always supported me, even when you thought I was wrong (usually was) and have always taken me seriously even when nobody else did. You’ve spent a lifetime giving to others. I just want to find some way to give back even a little of what you’ve given me. I hope your day Rocks!

Happy Birthday Cindy

P.S. Cindy’s Day is Sunday Fellow Hubbers, please help me wish her Happy Birthday in the comments section!