Saturday, March 25, 2006

One for my Homey...



That's my sister on the left, Barbara Bonita Christian. Today is her birthday and she would have been 53 years old. When I was a little boy, she was my protector. When I grew into my teens, she was my 'homey.' Sometime after high school, but before I left for the Navy, I was her protector, her "big brother" as she introduced me to her friends.

My sister passed away on September 15th, 1999 from what was diagnosed as a heart attack. She had been given a 'routine' allergy shot earlier that day. Less than 5 hours later she was being rushed to Emergency; 45 minutes after that she was pronounced dead.

To this day I am extremely skeptical about making hospital visits for any reason. I lost an uncle under uncomfortably similar circumstances in 1984. I remain close to my nieces and nephews and we usually gather together on Barb's birthday and on 9/15 every year, but today, I have to work.

Still, before I leave, I have to turn one up for My Homey. I miss you, Little-Big Sis.