Patty’s Ponderings: A Very Sibling Christmas!

Sibling rivalry at Christmas can turn very mean! Case in point; we were living in Anaconda, Montana. I was seven years old, my sister Carmela was nine and younger sister Carolyn was five.

Carmela is a highly intelligent and extremely emotional perfectionist, which always makes life difficult for her, and at times for others. And she is a snoop, whether it is Christmas or Easter, a birthday or planned surprise, she simply cannot reign in her desire to know and take control.

Carolyn and I were mere pawns in her Machiavellian plans to take over the world when we were kids. At least as far as that Christmas went.

We came into the living room Christmas morning; the sun was streaming in the picture window illuminating all kinds of wonderful gifts from Santa. An Italian Puppetrina doll, a Chatty Brother doll, (Chatty Cathy’s sibling), and a beautiful teddy bear with slippers on his feet that would fit his new owner, were among the wondrous items.

Just as my younger sister and I were getting excited about which gifts would be ours, Carmela announced that she had it on good authority that all of them were for her!

Imagine the surprise and devastation that Carolyn and I suffered through for almost an hour until our mom arose and set Carmela straight. Unbelievably, Mom knew exactly what Santa had brought for each of us! She was smart like that. Thank goodness.