I have to be the most blessed person on earth without a doubt. God gave me three sisters and a brother. We’ve been through thick and thin together. While all of my siblings are unique and very loved, I’m going to tell you a little about my youngest sister and why she’s my best friend.
For one thing we both love cowboys, chocolate and country music. Jan fell in love with and married Rick Sikes who had a band called the Rhythm Rebels back in the ’80’s. Rick taught her to play the guitar, sing, and write her own songs. She loves to perform and gives a hundred percent each time she steps onto a stage.
Jan is beautiful, smart as a whip and would do anything in the world for the people she loves.
Back in 2003 she took an autographed copy of my first book, “Knight on the Texas Plains,” to Shreveport, Louisiana and presented it to a good friend and amazing singer, Willie Nelson. Not only did she present it, she got an excellent picture of him opening up my book to read the inscription. That picture has been one of the most talked about things on my website. Don’t know exactly what Willie thought of the book, but getting his picture was a wonderful gift to me. Jan’s like that though. So thoughtful and considerate and generous.
From the very first when I decided I could write a book, Jan wholly supported my writing. She always let me bounce ideas off her, gave me a shoulder to lean on when I was down, and celebrated my successes. She’s been my rock and I don’t know what I’d do without her. It’s fair to say we’ve been through good times and bad. But we always stuck together.
When we were small, everyone used to think we were twins. Where one of us was, the other was also. We were literally inseparable. And that we favor each other in looks encouraged the belief that we were twins. The fact is I’m the oldest by a few years. But don’t tell anyone.
This past May I celebrated a milestone birthday (and no, I won’t say which one it was. I’d rather keep that a secret.) I’ll just say that Jan threw me one of the best, most fun, birthday parties I’ve ever had. We had a ton of good food, some of the best live music I’ve ever heard, and lots of laughter. It was truly a wondrous, special day for me. I won’t ever forget the love that went into putting everything together for me. In three years I plan on returning the favor. I just hope I can give her a celebration that will show her how important she is to me and one she’ll remember with fondness for years to come. If only I could sing. Sigh.
(Jan is the one on the left.)
Are you blessed to have a special sister…or brother? I’d like to hear from you.
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And visit me at www.LindaBroday.com
Here in the Texas Panhandle, we do love our cowboys. There's just something about a man in a Stetson and jeans that makes my heart beat faster. I'm not much of a cook but I love to do genealogy and I'm a bit of a rock hound. I'm also a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of historical western romance. You can contact me through my website and I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more. HAPPY READING!
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Good Morning Linda
Yes, I have a baby sister we have been referred to as twins also. We finish each others sentences and usually say the same things at the same time. We are very close, of course we have been known to fight each other too. (LOL)
We do just about everything together she even went to work at the same place I work. We ride to work every day together.
Speaking of work, I have to go. You ladies have a great day blogging.
Hi Linda – what a great post, and close to my heart. I too am lucky to have great siblings and both my sisters are my best friends. BUT, I’m really lucky because I do have an identical twin sister and she is my go to girl for just about everything. We are opposite in more ways then I can count, but we know each other so well we can finish each other’s sentences. Life is a ride I wouldn’t enjoy with out her by my side.
Hey Linda – as you can see my twin posted right before I got to this blog and we aren’t even in the same physical location at the moment. We sure do think alike both coming to PandP on the same day.
Personally, I don’t know what I’d do without my twin, we share soooo much.
I have one sister. She’s almost 3 1/2 years younger than me, but I wouldn’t trade her for the world. People get us confused, too because we favor so much.
We sometimes finish each other’s thoughts and we have a good old time sitting around and she’ll start singing something randomly, like the theme to Gilligan’s Island or something and the next thing you know we’re both singing and acting goofy.
When I went up to visit a couple of weeks ago with my parents and sister, she and I spent a lot of time playing Rummy and hanging out. She cracks me up and we can have gigglefests at the drop of a hat.
Sherry, I’m glad you have a special sister too. I think it’s the neatest thing to have someone close to share the joys and sorrows of life with.
And yes, Jan and I have had our fights, but they were mostly when we were young. I remember one time our mama made us wash dishes. I was the washer and Jan was the rinser and dryer. She got mad because I splashed her when I put a dish in her rinse water and the fight was on. Of course, I might’ve done it on purpose. I’m sure I did. By the time mama came to intervene, we were both soaking wet.
Hi Marisa!
Wow, a twin! That must be really special. I’ve heard stories about how twins bond in a way most children don’t. It’s kinda like you’re telepathic in a way. You’re right, life is indeed a ride. Especially when you have your best friend by your side. Have a great day!
Hi Maria, the other half of Marisa!
We’re so blessed here on P&P to have you both. It’s really neat how close you are in thought. Kinda like two people sharing a brain. Scientists have conducted lots of experiments on twins and came to some astounding conclusions that prove the strength of twins’ mental abilities.
Keep on enjoying your special relationship!
Hi Linda,
What a beautiful post about your sister. It brought tears to my eyes. Really.
I have one sister and she’s also my best friend. She’s supportive always and I can go to her when I have an issue and hear her thoughts. She’s wonderful and our friends are amazed that we never ever argue. She loves my kids as her own and I adore her kids too. I think of them as my ‘second set of children’.
Loved seeing your pictures. You’re right, Jan is beautiful, AND so are you!! Thanks for sharing this piece of your life!! I could be your sister, I love country music, cowboys and chocolate too!!
Morning Taryn!
You and your sister sound like mine. We have the best time together. It’s always like a party with lots of giggling and just having fun. I think my other siblings are a bit jealous of us. But there was such a big age difference between Jan and I and the first three. Sometimes it feels as if our parents had two separate families.
Jan and I were always best buds. When we were young we really didn’t need other friends. We’d sit and play paper dolls or jacks or just read for hours and hours on end. As we’ve gotten older we each adapted and got new friends. But I think the reason is that we don’t live in the same town.
Hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to enter our contest.
Hi Charlene,
You’re already my sister–my Filly sister. We’re like a family here. And we all share the love of cowboy, chocolate, and country music!
I’m glad you have a sister and that you’re as close as Jan and I are. It sure helps when you know someone you love has your back. Life would be really lonely I think if I didn’t have Jan. We share everything.
Sorry I made you cry. Wishing you a great day! 🙂
Hi, Linda! I really enjoyed your post today–I’ve got a sister, too, and she’s my dearest friend! I’m so very thankful for her! Thanks for the sweet reminder 🙂
I enjoyed reading about you and your sister, Linda. Your relationship sounds incredible. I never had a sister, though I always wanted one. I thought I did something great by giving my oldest two daughters each other. Then they fought like crazy the entire time they were growing up, sometimes bringing me to tears. Now they live a couple hours apart, but they make an effort to get their families together often. They are murder at family board games because they know each other so well and can second guess.
Hi Fedora!
I’m so glad you enjoyed my blog. Sometimes it’s painful opening myself up to people I’ve never met, but the urge to share my relationship with Jan was really strong.
I’m glad you have a sister too and that your bond is a strong one. Sisters keep us going when we want to give up.
Thanks for commenting today!
Cheryl,
You don’t know what you’re missing out on. Sisters are great fun to have.
Like your two daughters, when Jan and I were growing up we had our moments when we got crossways. It never lasted long though. Before you could turn around we were giggling and having a big time. I guess that’s pretty normal.
I’d like to see some of your board games. Bet you have great fun with your daughters.
How wonderful that you have sisters, especially those you can call best friends.
I have only brothers 🙁
But I have been blessed with a couple of friends that I consider sisters – if only of the heart.
PamT
Hi Linda, I love cowboys, chocolate, and country music too. Throw in a little red wine and I’m there LOL.
This was a heart-touching post. Sadly, I am not close to my 2 brothers and never had a sister.. Instead God blessed me with my hubby’s sister who is one of my best friends. Truly a sister to me (him, too LOL) in every sense. Fortunately, my son and daughter are very close.
Hi Pamela!
Sorry you got left out when it came to sisters. But friends do count. I consider all the Fillies here my sisters. We’ve become like family more than friends. I enjoy talking and doing things with them so much.
I’ll bet you were really spoiled being the only girl. And I’ll bet your brothers teased you unmercifully but they’d probably walk through fire for you. Brothers are fierce protectors. Mine certainly is.
You know, I really love having a son and a daughter, but I think my sweet Nikki, who is so kind and nurturing would have liked a sister. Luckily, she has two best friends, so close that she couldn’t choose, and BOTH girls will be her maid of honor in her wedding.
I know how much my sister means to me, and wish my daughter had that… in the family. But friends can be like sisters. 🙂
Hi Tanya!
I’m thrilled that you enjoyed my post. It’s really difficult to open myself up like that. But, I’m glad I did.
Sounds like you got a sister after all. I’m glad you’ve developed a close bond with your hubby’s sister. God did bless you. And maybe He wanted to make up for the fact that He gave you brothers. LOL I’m sorry you’re not all that close to your brothers. Maybe one day you will. Life has a way of turning on a dime.
Thanks so much for coming by!
Charlene,
I love how your daughter couldn’t choose between her best friends and will have both of them for her maids of honor. That’s so sweet!! I think it’s really special and shows how much she loves them.
I’m sure she has a close relationship with her brother too. Nikki sounds like an amazing young woman. I’m not surprised though because her mother is pretty great too. 🙂
Hi Linda,
You are so right, about things tending to work out. I have hopes LOL.
Our DIL had co-maids of honor, too–her best friend and our daughter, and our son had co-bestmen. Was very lovely.
Thanks for another great start to my day! I always love visiting Wildflower Junction…and will no doubt be back later. 🙂
Tanya,
These kids today have a way of figuring everything out to suit them. I’m glad they’re not stuck in rigid tradition. There’s nothing wrong with a girl having her wedding the way she wants, including two or three of everything. And I love how a lot of bride and grooms write their own vows. It makes the ceremony much more personal. Anything to keep the divorce rate down. There’s way too many marriages that fall apart.
Wildflower Junction is always here. Come back as often as you wish. We never close. lol
Linda that is so special that you have such a relationship with your sister. I always wanted a sister never got one, I have a brother but I was sixteen when he was born so I had to help raise him. I guess you would say my best friend is my huband I have known him since I was 11 and so we share so many things. We answer each others sentences all the time. He is the one I can go there with anything.
I wished I could say I have a friend that is like that but it seems like friends come and go and there are not a lot of friends like there used to be. I am still looking for that special person I say is my best friend.
I am another twin that visits this site. I have a twin sister that is also a best friend. And like the others that left comments, we are really alike. It is weird in how alike we are and we don’t even live in the same state-we have sent each other the same birthday presents, said the same things, and our tastes in almost everything are the same. The exception is men, thank goodness. I always liked tall outdoors types and she liked the refined, cultured city dwellers.
Brenda,
I’m glad you enjoyed my blog. I love writing about my sister. We’re just like two peas in a pod. I can’t life without her.
Husbands can be best friends, absolutely. In fact, a marriage works best when we have that kind of relationship. My husband was my best friend too. Facing life together created a special bond that I have even now after he’s gone. I feel him close, watching over me.
I pray that you’ll run into that friend who can seem like a sister. One that’ll stick by you no matter what. She’s out there somewhere. Don’t give up.
Thanks for your comments! I enjoy chatting with you girls.
Hi Joye!
It’s been a while since I had a chance to chat with you. You’ve been on my newsletter mailing list for years. Great to see you here.
I never knew you were a twin. That’s great! Wow, you do share a special bond with your sister! I find it amazing that you think so much alike. And that you’re not even in the same state. Funny that you like different kind of men though. Isn’t the world an exciting, wondrous place?
Hey, did you and sister ever play tricks on people and switch places? I think that would be so much fun.
Have a great day, Joye!
Linda, your post is a wonderful tribute to your sister.
Considering that I wrote a whole page (yikes) about my sisters yesterday under the topic of real-life heroes, I won’t bore you all with it again. But I will add something:
When I was 6 and my sister 7, we went through a horrible time that no child should go through and I won’t bore you with those details either, but I want to say that she took on a mothering role even at that young age.
I remember her holding me in the night, while we hid under our blankets, and she’d tell me how we were going to run away and that she’d be there protecting me forever. It was the only time I felt safe.
Hi Anita,
I’m glad you liked the tribute to Jan. She really deserves all the praise I can heap on her. We’ve been through a lot together and it’s helped knowing she’s always there.
Sounds like you and your sister share a lifetime of stuff. What a wonderful person your sister is and that she became so at such a tender age just adds to her depth of character. I’m glad she made you feel safe. I can only imagine what you’ve been through. Thanks so much for sharing your special story. It touched me deeply.
It’s wonderful to hear everyone’s sister stories. Although I love my sister dearly and would do anything for her, I’d never consider her my best friend. There’s just something there that keeps either of us from stepping over that line. At one time I could say the age difference was the issue (she’s 10 years younger) but as we’ve gotten older we have gotten closer. 🙂
Now, my baby bro, on the other hand, is one of my best friends.And even though he’s eight years younger, he sure acts the big brother to take care of both me and our sister. Who wouldn’t love that? 😉
Hi *Lizzie!
Brothers can certainly qualify as best friends. I have a very neat brother who has taken it on himself to be us girls’ protector. I think boys just naturally fall into the role whether they mean to or not. I’m glad you have a great relationship with your brother. Heaven knows we need someone to share our problems and happiness with! And if not a sister, then a brother will do the trick.
Thanks for coming by to comment!
Hi Linda!
What a wonderful post. Willy Nelson reading your book. Does it get any better? I am such a Willy Nelson fan. And what a great post about your sister. Love it. I think you just might be right. You are blessed. : )
Hi Linda,
I enjoyed your touching post. That’s a great Willie Nelson shot! Makes me smile, how interested he is in your book. I really like his music and can imagine how much the photo means to you. What a wonderful relationship you have with your sister! I don’t have a sister but like Cheryl, always wish I did. But I have a lot of extended family on my husband’s side, so there’s always someone to talk to.
Hi, Linda,
I love hearing about all these lovely sibling
relationships. I’m the eldest of nine, 5 sisters
and 4 brothers, one set of twin brothers. ( We have lost 1 sister/’75 and 1 brother/’80) We all reside in Houston except for the youngest brother. We are all best friends and if we get a call, we are on the way! Back in the 1950s scene if our sister’s teen trio needed a replacement, whichever sibling was available would fill in! Even if it
was a brother!
Pat Cochran
That was a most honoring triubute. I love you so much and am SO proud to have you for a sister. Who else on this earth would listen to the recounts of my crazy dreams and not wonder if I need to be committed. It was my PLEASURE to give you a birthday party and it really was great, even if it did rain. 🙂 I love you and always can’t wait until we can get together agtain. Hey, maybe you’ll get your CD this week. You not only honored me, but Mom, because she helped us become what we are. She was an amazing woman, and so was Aunt Evelyn! Great Blog!!
Hi Kay and Kate,
Yep, that’s Willie all right and he has my book in hand. I would never had that opportunity if not for my precious sister. She’s the one who has an inside track not only with Willie, but in the music business. I wish you could hear Jan sing. What a beautiful voice! And she’s a very good songwriter too. Knows just how to put emotion into a very few words.
Hi Pat!
Didn’t I just see your name as another prize winner? I think it was one of Delores Fossen’s books. Congratuations!
Boy, you really hit the jackpot with brothers and sisters! That’s a bunch. Must be kinda like the Osmond family. Sorry you’ve already lost a brother and sister though. That’s tough. Just be sure to make what’s left of your time together with those remaining really worthwhile.
Thanks for coming by to chat!
Hi Jan!
There you are. I was wondering if you’d remember to come by to see what I wrote about you. 🙂 See? You’re a pretty interesting subject.
And I don’t mind listening to anything you have to say. Some people were born to have crazy dreams and others were born listeners. You know me, I’d much rather stay in the background and observe. I still haven’t gotten my CD that you sent. Don’t know what happened to it.
Yes, I guess my blog about you does honor our mama and Aunt Evelyn. They helped us be who we were meant to be. I’m so grateful for the parents and other family that God gave us.
Don’t work too hard tomorrow. 🙂 I love you!!