Seaside Sisters

Seven glorious days to exchange catch-up stories on eighteen children, share snapshots of twenty-three grandchildren and to savor decades of sister-memories. What could be better? The "Cook girls" convened at Pawleys Island (better known to friends and visiting guests of baby sista's as Paula's Island) to lull and laugh away some lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.

In addition to working on our tans (or is it freckles and wrinkles at our age?) we were industrious on several other fronts. Let it never be said that our sedate, hard-working, Geman upbringing was neglected just because we were vacationing. The first overcast day found us in our improvised art studio set up for painting hydrangeas. Aren't we proud of us? 

Anya & I joined Paula on her rounds to deliver meals to island residents and met some winsome folks along the way. As seems typical in island culture everywhere, the contrast between the posh and the poor is decidedly apparent. Nevertheless, infirmity and need are not respecters of persons. It was a blessing to serve individuals on both ends of the spectrum. We visited elderly gents in trailer parks and a charming widow living in an oceanside villa on stilts. How precious to know that my sister is their sunshine (and soup!) each Wednesday. 

My sisters are amazing cooks (and that's not just our family name.) Each evening we dined overlooking the golf course (minus the resident alligator who was shy and failed to appear to entertain us) over scrumptious fare prepared by them. Mid-week, we took an evening off from the kitchen and went out to let locals wait on us....and to take our picture because we were getting the giggles over all our selfies. 

We played cards, watched movies and crafted a grandchild-memory album, but the most hilarious memories of all center around installing the My Talking Pet app and letting Shiloh and Lexi, the resident pooches, relay messages to our kids and grands.....who usually did not reply, BTW. We are pretty sure they are rolling their eyes but that they are very grateful that all it takes to send their mothers into gales of laughter is a whimsical iPhone app. Who said that thing about teaching old dogs new tricks? We are definitely mothers of the twenty-first century!

Okay, so the funniest story of all as we prepared to share pix with our families. Conversation overheard between sisters realizing that we really do look alike as others have suggested:

That's good. Go ahead and send it.

Oh that's me? I thought it was you. 

I look awful.

I mean, it was fine if it was you.

 Ya gotta love those sisters! 

And I do!!!!