Snapshot of my Older Sisters and Me

 

Above is a photo of me with my three sisters Right of the photo, on my left, is Lilas, sixteen years older than me.  To my right is Mary Louise, thirteen years older. My sister Karen, with the mid-fifties popular sailor's blouse, ten years older.

With older sisters I learned to talk and walk early. And if I finished my popsicle first, one of my sisters would share what they had left. And I learned new words. My mom and dad always called them my sisters. I first heard the word "half-sister" on a road trip to Fort Arthur, Canada (now Thunder Bay). I was about 10. Lilas introduced me to her cousin as "my half-sister Narta." The cousin was on her father's side of family. I also remember he worked on a tugboat and brought us to the port to see it and climb aboard.

The photo was taken in my first home, on a farm in Harris, Minnesota.  I was about four. My parents, Karen and I would soon move to Silver Bay. Mom must have recently given me a Tonette perm. My hair was naturally straight.