Last week I flew to LA so I could meet up with my brother and his wife from Pittsburg to help celebrate my sister Susie’s 80th birthday!! Her daughter from Kentucky flew in also. Her other daughter, step-daughter and husbands live close by. They found the perfect restaurant for us to celebrate Susie's 80th birthday in a private dining room. Her face may appear masked-like from Parkinson's but her humor and personality shine through. Her step-daughter's husband loves to write poems and read her a perfect message on her special birthday.
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Susie has Parkinson’s and Rotoscoliosis. Rotoscoliosis is the worst and most severe type of scoliosis. It’s a curvature of the vertebral column turned on its axis. Not only does the spine curve to the side, but the curve is also associated with a strong degree of rotation.
She lives in a wonderful, assisted living facility where the staff and residents love her enthusiastic and cheerful disposition. Her mobility is limited but doesn’t stop her from taking several walks with her walker a day and always makes her way to the dining room for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, to visit her table mates.
She is an inspiration to everyone, and I admire her tenacity and grateful she is my big sis. Susie is a woman of faith and still attends Bible study and journal writing classes they offer where she lives. It’s hard for her to write so they discuss meaningful questions which they are requested to ponder. Her determination to live a life of gratitude has influenced all of us.
Spending time with my sister and brother (and everyone who came) was such a treat. She had boxes of photographs she wanted us to look through and told us to take any photos we wanted. We all laughed, reminisced about our childhood growing up and recalled episodes that happened to each of us siblings along our path to adult hood. Sometimes a different perspective gives us new insight into our childhood.
Our parents have been gone for quite some time so we are the “Cleary” kids and so glad we talk often and make an effort to stay connected since we live in different parts of the country. My brother survived being shot at Kent State and Pancreatic cancer and my sister is living with some debilitating heath issues. We all exhibit positive attitudes and take what life sends our way and deals with it together. I think our parents would be proud of us.
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” Maya Angelou
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