My family is a fun mish-mash of culture, heritage and origin. We’re mutts basically, with a combination of Eastern European and South American blood. My sister and I have been asked before if we have different fathers—growing up, our appearances were so physically different. I was short, with curly, red hair, fair skin and freckles. She was tall, with long, straight dark hair and perfect, dark skin. While we were both overachievers, we had such different personalities… I was a bit of a wilder independent, ‘edgier,’ a performer, arts-oriented. She was quieter, a creative writer, horseback rider, homebody. I was out of my parents house like a rocket as soon as I could get out, she stayed there through college and made her way out slowly.
We bickered like any teens, and she drove me up the wall. I am sure she felt the same. But right after I left home… well, she started to get cool. She was younger than me, and was finally becoming an adult—right when I moved out. Then I moved away to Toronto, and she got cooler, still. Then I moved away to San Diego, and more and more, I would think, “Man, if we lived in the same city, we’d be best friends.” The older we get, the more alike we seem to become, meeting in the middle of all our differentiators. It’s a bit sad—I really never had the opportunity to connect to my sister as an adult, in the same headspace as me. We get to see each other about once or twice a year, now, and it’s always so rewarding when we do. But all that is shifting tomorrow, as she’s moving to Australia for a major adventure that I am filled with pride and enthusiasm and envy about. She doesn’t have a firm plan, she is truly aiming for unknown adventure. I thirst vicariously for it all. I am so proud she is jumping into something that will absolutely be incredibly rewarding, no matter how things develop.
Today, I am sharing a brief excursion we made over the Christmas holidays, to my favourite sandwich café in Montreal, Santropol. Tam and Josh joined Scott and I on a FREEZING trek across town to get out there and then Tam and Josh got all cute, and I thought to myself—I have never shot these two lovebirds, and they are just the cutest. Thus, I had to pull out my camera and go wild as we finished our chai lattes. These two are really great for one-another, bringing out truly good things in each other. Josh (a YouTube gaming sensation) is wonderfully positive, a buoyant little kid in a man’s body. He brings out the energy and silliness in my sister and helps her let go of things that don’t matter. Tam’s organized, focused and smart—I think she’s taught Josh a lot about responsibility and persistence. I think they are going to have a spectacular adventure. They will be missed!
Tags: Cafe, family, Montreal, Santropol, Sibling, Sister, Tam and Josh, Winter
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