The Bono Girls

I’m a big softie when it comes to my sisters. I always have been. They are several years older than I am - won’t tell you how much – not only to respect their privacy – but because the number doesn’t really matter. The point is they were who I looked up to and wanted to be like. Our father was in the Air Force and they moved quite frequently before I came along. I got to move 3 times before it was time to quit moving. The last move was hard because my sisters weren’t coming. They had already graduated and were making their way in the big ol’ world in Wisconsin. We, parents and I, were headed to Missouri to live, as Dad had retired. Before we left, I remember locking myself in the bathroom, sitting on the floor and crying my eyes out. The move had a different meaning for my Mom and Dad than it did for me. They were excited and looking forward to settling down in Missouri where they both were from. I, on the other hand, felt like I was being sent to live out the remainder of my days with, and I mean no offense, two old fogeys. AND I couldn’t take my sisters with me!!

Fast forward to the early 1970’s. By this time the oldest sister is married and moving around the country with her Air Force husband. The next sister had come to her senses, moved back to Missouri and married a local boy. Yes!! Finally had a sister back! But then what do they do? They decide to move clear across the state. I’m many years older than the first time I’m separated from my sisters, but it really doesn’t matter. They leave and I sit on the porch and cry my eyes out!! How dare they move 4 hours away from me! After they are gone several years, they eventually move back and all is forgiven.

Then comes the mid 80’s. This time I’m the one pulling up stakes and moving across the country! Both sisters make the road trip to Arizona with me. We have a great time getting me semi-settled in Phoenix and they fly back to their respective homes. That night, I sit in the hotel room and cry my eyes out!!

We are three independent women leading different lives. One sister is a widow with one child and one grandchild and has remained in Missouri. The other sister is married (45 years now!) with two children and one grandchild and has retired in Texas. We don’t get to see each other very often – which we need to rectify. But when we do, we have the best time and the years we haven’t seen each other melt away – seems like we pick right up where we left off.

So, when I made the trek to Texas in May, I knew that the other sister could not make the trip. I was hoping she could, but life has a way of throwing road blocks at us and there’s nothing we can do about them. After a couple of days relaxing and visiting, we are planning a trip to a local fish fry. My brother-in-law, who works in the city, came out to the ranch property for the weekend that day. Before we go to dinner, my sister decides we should go sit on the deck for a bit to relax (I’ll show you a picture some other time and you’ll see why it’s so relaxing!!). As we head out, I pass the corner of the house and I catch something out of the corner of my eye – IT’S MY OTHER SISTER!! She had flown in and come out with my brother-in-law and hid to surprise me! Guess what? I cried.
　

　
　
We had a great time - my brother-in-law mentioned something one time about using muzzles – not sure what he was implying. ; )   Scrabble was played intensely, too. That’s always a given! But more importantly, the Bono Girls were together for a little while. I hadn’t thought much about that term, but I remember many hometown people referring to us as the "Bono Girls." I suppose it comes from the fact that when we were all together in our hometown, whether it was one sister visiting me and the other sister who lived there or whether is was me and the other sister visiting the hometown sister, we were, well, together. All the time. I love that we like each other and want to spend time together. What I don’t love is that we do it so infrequently these days. Note to self: Work on that.