My Sister, My friend.

Where does Harmony's name come from? Elton John 'Harmony'(yellow brick road album)


When I was a kid I really thought Elton John was talking about me and Harmony. (like I was singing the song)I mean he did 'echo' hello hello, and me and Harmony were pretty good company, and Harmony gee I really love ya and I'm gonna love ya forever. (see my point)

Well as you know my Sister Harmony and I had a horrible fight last month while I was visiting in Pennsylvania. We spoke on Thanksgiving, and got into even a bigger fight over the phone.

For those of you who really truly know me I know this comes as a shock. I mean I have been telling people for years not to fight with their siblings or family. It's just not worth it. I always used my sister and I's relationship as the example. I know the people closest to me felt like 'shut up you and your sister's relationship is different' I heard that so much that I started to take a closer look at other women with their sisters. Yep we had a truly wonderful, exceptional relationship.

We have always been very close in age. I was born in July 1975, and she was born in January 1977. That is only 18 months apart. (Yes my parents were very busy. My brother came in Feb. 1979. That was only 25 months later.)
Being very close in age was not what made us so close. I mean I was the older sister, and everything I got to do she got to do. Anything that I had to wait to do like shave, date, ect. She got to do right after I did. That was a pain. Also, we shared a room the entire time we lived at home. I was always heavy, and she was always thin and beautiful. I hated that. When we would fight she would call me fat, and I would tell her that she didn't have any friends. We would always make up right away, and it would be like nothing ever happened.
As adults we always lived really close. We even lived together for awhile. Then I went to Georgia, and she and her husband worked things out. We have remained close. We talked everyday twice a day. She was my sister, and my best friend. I was very lucky.

As adults I only ever remember 2 big fights:
1- (1998) Was over seeing her at Easter. It was really a bad fight between us. Then my brother died and we just let it go. We both felt bad for fighting. Life is two short.
2- (2002) Was about the kids while we were camping. We said some really rotten things to each other that I will not repeat. But the next morning we said our I'm sorries let's never do that again and everything was fine.

Since then we have always been on the same side right wrong or indifferent. There has only been three women that I would 'hold hands into the sunset with no matter what' and my sister Harmony was the first.

Now it is 2008 and we are in our 3rd fight but it is the biggest fight of our life. Are we older and more stubborn? No I don't think thats what it is. You see during the other times we were thrown back together, just like when we were kids. You know right after the fight within a couple of days it was like hello here we are together so we need to make up. But this time is different because we are separated. I don't think anything worse happened here than happened before, I just think we are not together. If I lived there and our lives were intertwined then we would have made up by now. But that is not the case, and here we are.

My life just hasn't been the same since I left Pennsylvania this last time.
I am going to leave you with a wonderful Elton John Song 'Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word'


Harmony I love you, I miss you, and I am really sorry.

Harmony's Kids

Mckayla, Brandin, and Braxton

This is all of my nephews and nieces I have in Pennsylvania. They are part of one big Steelers loving family. These are Harmony (my sister) and P.J.’s children. I have the most stories about Brandin. Oh and I intend on telling some of them because one they are funny and two because he will love to hate it. I am going to give some thoughts on each one today.

Brandin and my Mom Luann

Brandin – He has always been a very smart guy. When he was younger we were closer and he thought I was the greatest. He was my first nephew. He is really into Motorcross, Four Wheelers, Fishing,…..anything that is very boyish. He also has a really sweet side to him as well. I remember when I took Bethany to Pennsylvania for the first time. He held her, and cuddled her, and fed her. I have pictures to prove it. Sometimes he can seem beyond his years. This can be good and this can be frustrating. I love to hear that he is helping at home, and doing well in school.

Brandin with a big fish.

Brandin and McKayla ready for ball.

McKayla, and Grandma Leon at the Out Banks.

MaKayla Jade- Well Uncle Chris loves everything about your name. For one the Kayla is in it which is the first daughter he ever had, and second he really wanted Jade to be Bethany’s middle name. MaKayla is a very sweet girl. She loves loves loves her some Bethany, and Bethany loves loves loves her some MaKayla. Sometimes I just can’t get over how much they act a like even though they are 800 miles away. For some reason Harmony and I love to relive our childhood when they are together by dressing them alike. I mean I think last year they had not only day outfits that matched they had night clothes that were the same as well.

McKayla and Braxton

Braxton James- He has the same middle name as Noah. Noah and Braxton were named after our brother Jimmy. Braxton is full throttle boy all the time. Dirt is his best friend as you can see from the picture. He has a condition with his leg were the ball of the leg is like a square fitting in a circle hole. However, this does not slow the boy down. I do have some trouble understanding him. BUT I can get the good stuff like – I love you, Noah, Echo, and he doesn’t even have to say it but he wants to know when we are coming.

I know what you are thinking and you would be correct.

Braxton James is the dirtiest, happiest kid on earth.