Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Mentor & Friend
By Chip's Sister Dinah
I've had a very strong feeling that she wants me to refer to her in the name we shared “as sisters.” It will
come as no surprise when I tell you that Sister Sara had a very strong presence in our family. Our mother
first told me this story years ago and SS and I laughed about it so many times. You’ll see why! My entrance
into this world was very difficult and left me with some serious learning disorders. Around the age of 2, I
began to have severe temper tantrums and would hold my breath, turning blue in the process. Our
pediatrician told mother to throw a glass of water in my face and that would start my breathing again.
Remember, this was 1943 advice. Well, we all got a shock when this method was tried. I don’t remember
my shock, but SS said I did start breathing again. My mother’s shock was SS’s reaction. SS was 5 years old
with thick sausage curls (Shirley Temple style). She threw herself between my mother and me. This is a
place she would become acquainted with as the years rolled on. She exclaimed, “Don’t you ever do that to
my baby again.” I can see those nostrils flaring, those black curls bouncing and the warrior stance, which
was terrifying to all of us who ever crossed her. Because of that experience, I believe her trust in our parents
was greatly diminished. It’s not hard to imagine she lost much of her childhood at that point. She began
taking care of me and later on my sister Miranda (Mardi). I never remember my parents not paying attention
to what she had to say. She was more of a mother to my sister Mardi and I, and we knew we’d better listen to
her. During her illness, when her coughing racked her body, I would hold her in my arms and hug, kiss her
and pat her back saying “you are my baby now.” Her middle name was Lucretia.
We love you, Sara Lu.
Sister Dinah
