Looking Back | A tribute to my sister

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

My oldest sister Lela turned 80 this month. I can remember when we had Mom’s 80th birthday celebration. She seemed old. Lela (who was my mother’s namesake) seems young.

Maybe it’s Lela’s outlook on life. She remains busy, even holding down a full-time job. Lela thinks nothing of hopping on a plane or driving her car all the way from Mesa, Ariz., if we’re having a get-together or a wedding or graduation. She loves to shop, always wearing the latest fashion.

Every time I look at my baby doll all dressed in pink and lace, in my spare bedroom, I am reminded of Lela’s hobby of making dolls and sewing them fancy outfits. She made a china doll for each of her sisters. My daughter even has one of her creations.

Lela’s five children rise up and call her blessed. I’ve never seen a family so honor their mother the way those kids do. When they were growing up, their house was often messy. I thought Lela didn’t knowhow to clean house; it surprised me when I visited her home after the children were all grown and saw it so clean and tastefully decorated. This mother always had time for her children. She could have cared less about her house but she might sit for hours and rock her babies, probably long after they were too old to be rocked. Her grandchildren also love this lady dearly.

Pappa and Momma had a plan for having so many children; they gave the older girls the responsibility of the babies as they were born. Lela was given the care of me. I don’t remember much of what she did, but she protected me. One day Sis Helen was trying to find me and Lela took me and my brother Paul into a chicken coop and hid us until Helen gave up. I loved Lela forhiding me and taking care of me.

She’s always been an older sister that took responsibility for us younger ones. When Papa died we looked to Lela for stability. She has never lost hergentleness and kindness. She is a sweet sister.

Lela has such tenderness, taking care of her husband in his declining health. She even took in a niece that was troubled, caring for her as if she was her own. Family has always been important to her.

Yet, she has a strong nature when needed. When Momma got older and cried for sympathy, Lela would be the strong one, giving her confidence. Once, when Lela wanted to join us for vacation, she bought a used motor home and drove it clear to the Colorado Rockies. A fearless lady!

I think of her wedding. (I was already married by then and had a baby).When the happy bride and groom went to drive away in their car it had gotten locked, with the keys inside. I don’t remember how they got the door open, but I recall the laughter and jokes. It wasn’t nearly as funny, though, as the day her first daughter got married and the groom fainted at the altar.

Growing up with six sisters and five brothers on a farm west of Gravette had some fun times and was certainly never boring. Maybe that’s why Leta grew up to be such a neat sister.

Marie Wiggin Putman, one-time Gravette resident, shares her thoughts with our readers twice every month.

Opinion, Pages 7 on 10/13/2010