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
this is so sweet. good luck to them!
Aw, thanks, Jodi! THEY are so sweet.
I see a lot of similarities with my own relationship with my sister in this post. Except perhaps for the happy ending in Australia. I think she still has some growing up to do to get there. Just to say that it made me think about her, and about you of course Jasmine ! Thanks for your sharp insight and wonderful photos
I do wish we lived in the same city.
I guess we always having growing and changing relationships to our siblings. We’ll always be the elder sisters, so we’ll always have that feeling of seeing that growth happen. But I definitely think when you move far away, the nature of your relationship changes. I think Tam perhaps sought to emulate me more when we were teens: I was the older sister she looked up to. I believe it was really probably good for her once I was gone—she no longer had me to reference or to match up against… it may have freed her to really be herself. Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts, Sara—it’s always so nice to see you here. ça fait tellement longtemps qu’on s’est pas vue! J’espère que toute va bien!
Okay, so like tears are streaming down my face right now. Your post is warm and wonderful. I am going to miss Tamara like the dickens (whatever that means), as I continually miss you. I am already getting weird butterfly-type feelings, on a bit of a roller-coaster ride. I know that when she leaves, I will ball my eyes out. But I am so proud of you both, who you are, what you are doing and I love you both so much! Wonderful post Jasmine!
Oh, Mama, don’t go getting teary. We’re always just a Facetime away, now! AND, you can come sleep on my couch anytime.
Hurray, more people moving to Australia. Looking forward to seeing them both! Come visit us!
You keep exercising your powers of persuasion… be careful what you wish for!
i love the pics of your sister and her guy. especially the b&w ones. i also have a younger sister and i know how you feel. even though we are very different the last years we get along very well. and i think its because we share the same principles and we value exactly the same way the important things in our lives. wishing tam all the best in australia!
Thank you so very much, Angelica! I do believe that as we get older and make our own ways we start to recognize the distinct similarities of our values and principles (and place a high value on these things).
Omg Jas, I cracked up so hard when I watched Josh’s youtube video!!!! Please please never let him be a gangster he will get a cap in his ass so fast…
On a much more sweet and sticky note the pics are SOOOOOO CUUUUUTE!!! When I read that you grabbed the camera I got so excited because I wanted to take more awesome photos of them at your Hootenanny but they all came out blurry =( Glad to see that they are doing so well! And glad to see you enjoyed Montreal as well! It was sooo coooold…..ugh, next time I will ask to borrow your boots before I go. Cheers!
HA, yes, he wasn’t cut out for the street.
Hope you survived Montreal—it was a challenge for me! SO intense…
Oh this is so sweet. I don’t have a sister, but my mum always felt like one and was often mistaken for it! She’s still ageing beautifully I think. I just adore your words and photos. It is hot summer here so it is so lovely to partake in winter through your images. May I ask where she is moving to in Australia? Hope your weekend is finishing off well.
Gosh, it’s so funny how many different seasons are being experienced at this very moment. For us, it’s winter, but warm winter that feels like a spring/summer, in San Diego. Whereas this visit to canada—polar (literally) opposite!
oh my goodness! there couldn’t possibly be a doubt that you two are sisters – you look so much alike! i hope your sister’s adventures find her as much happiness as yours have.
HA. Yeah, I don’t know… it’s like we’re slowing becoming the same person, really. Incidentally, we’ve been asked if we’re twins as well as if we have different fathers. So many people have seen us so differently. Thanks, Lauren!
This was such a sweet post, Jazzy! I love your words about your sister. So full of love. And speaking of full of love, the latter pics are so adorable! I need to get friends like that, so open and fun in front of the camera.
Thank you so much, Jacqueline! My recommendation: hound people until they just give up trying to fight you. Worked for me.
My sister and I look nothing alike. Probably because we actually do have different fathers. (Also, she is 14 years younger than me.) But my eyes are trained to look for similarities in families, and I see that you and your sis have similar expressions. There’s that mischievous smile, for starters…
Isn’t it great when our little sibs grow up and we become friends? I hope you get to bugger off down under for a familial visit very soon!
We are just so similar and so different all at once, and it depends n your perspective, which way you end up perceiving us, methinks. It IS great when little uncool sisters turn into cool ones.
We’re hoping down under will be next year… this year we have a megaplan for elsewherethat is already in motion. Posting about it very soon indeed!