Sisters

So the other day my sister called and we had a really short conversation about nothing exciting. After about 5 or so minutes we got off the phone and I went about my evening as usual. The next day I get a call from my brother who proceed to chew me out almost immediately. I have to tell you that I was taken by surprise to say the least. He noticed and decided that he should start over- never apologizing for the crazy talk, mind you.

He tells me that our sister called and is upset with me and "when you get home there may be an email. I am asking that you use some tact." WHAT!?!

A lot of things went through my mind at this moment. I thought about the fact that he interrupted my day off to talk crazy and curse at me about something that I am not really sure ever happened. I thought about what could possibly be in this email. I thought about calling my best friend. I thought about how hot it was and wondered if that was coming from outside or my sudden spike in body temperature, but more than anything I thought about him telling me to use tact.

Why do I always have to be the responsible one?

I am a glutton for punishment and so I went home and read this email. It was like an out of body experience. I have not been this confused since college when I work up somewhere in North Philly with someone I don't remember leaving with and only vaguely remember meeting. The most confusing part was that I don't drink and don't do drugs, so I can't really account for the memory loss. This was one of those moments. Apparently, my sister had a really terrible and devastating conversation with someone that she thought was me and then emailed me her feelings about this conversation. The problem was that I never said the things that she came at me with and all this mention of my life being perfect was straight up crazy. I am not adopted. I lived with the same crazies she did.

Considering my past memory failures, you may wonder how I can be so sure I did not say it. Well, I am sure because I am a creature of habit. I use the same words and phrases all the time and there is distinct pattern to all my conversations- especially with people that I care about. It doesn't hurt that husband was in the room while I was on the phone and he doesn't remember me saying anything either. That only made it worse because the one thing that sends me into a rage is when people misquote me. I HATE THAT! I can get in enough trouble with my own words. I don't need people making any up for me!

Besides, I am way to passive aggressive and manipulative to have said something so overtly hurtful as I was accused. She also insinuated that I am self-centered. It was by far her most accurate assertion, but that should have been her first clue that she misunderstood me because I am too self-centered to be concerned with paying attention to and commenting on what she was doing in the first place.

How could she not know at least that much about me? That is when I realized that she could not really be mad at me at all. She was clearly mad, but not at me and what I did. So, I did the only thing I knew to do. I let it go and let her cool off. I responded to her email and told her that I love her and decided wait it out.

In the midst of her refusal to answer my calls or read my emails, she sent me a text saying she would babysit this weekend. WHAT!?! Who does that? Are we fighting or not? Stop changing to rules and trying to confuse me. Then I thought about Father, who never apologizes. He just buys you a gift and acts like nothing happened. DOES babysitting count as an apology? I do need a break! What am I saying? No truce until she talks to me voice to voice, at least. I text back and she promises to read my email.

When I came in this morning, I was greeted by another email. I held my breath as I started to read, only to be greeted by my REAL sister, the reasonably sane I know and love. She apologized and admitted that she was mad at someone else. I always love being right, but this victory was especially sweet because it meant that I was not crazier than I thought and was not having conversations that I could not remember.

I am glad we are back to normal and that my brother was smart enough this time to not get in too deep. I am really glad that she did not involve our other brother because he and Mother are the only people left on earth who are convinced that I am perfect I would feel some kind of way if she ruined my rep with him. I know all four of us are a little off, but we are in this together.

Mostly, I am glad to have my sister back (It was a rough 36 hours). I mean, who wants to be crazy and alone!