I must make it abundantly clear that there are no other two women who could ever fill the space in my heart that my two sisters occupy. However, there is another pair of sisters that have a space in there that even my sisters cannot fill.

In the summer of 1984 after I graduated high school, I began “babysitting” Tana and Amy. They spent the summers on the farm–close to our farm–with their dad, and the rest of the year with their mom in Arizona.

It was a rocky start, they tell me. They were determined to run me off, just as they had done to the others before me. It didn’t help that I didn’t like their cat, Cinnamon.

Fast forward 39 years later, and we continue to choose to spend time together. It appears I made the cut, because I was invited back for about five more summers, even when they didn’t need me. Their dad was a busy farmer, and realized we were a good fit, so it remained my summer job for those years. I am so grateful they decided to keep me.

They were even a part of my wedding.

Now, every year for the July 4th week, they visit with their daughters. Husbands and one son have also been in the mix, but not this year.

Kansas still feels like home to them, no matter how many years they have lived in Arizona.

As we have done every year since 1984, we enjoy jigsaw puzzles. We completed five this year, with the help of their daughters:

We swam in our backyard above-ground redneck pool,

enjoyed fireworks,

visited nearby Manhattan where their mother grew up, and where Tana attended college,

visited a local brewery,

and a local saloon.

We ate A LOT of good food, and maybe even threw back a few beers.

In summary, we hung out and enjoyed each other’s company, as we always do. As an added bonus, they are thrilled that my husband and I are now cat people.

If we are lucky, we will have another 39 years together. For now, however, the memories of another July 4th week are in the books, and we know how fortunate we are to keep this gig going so long.

There is always room for more sister love in The Sister Lode.