May 03, 2005

naked no more

Forget that by the time I got home on Friday afternoon the Wash-n-Fold was open. Forget that all 37 pounds of clean clothes had been lugged up four flights of stairs (the elevator was, predictably, out of service again) and put away neatly in closets and drawers. A seed had been planted, and it was time to shop.

My sister had flown in for the weekend and had arrived with no other agenda than to spend quality time with her big sis. Now, that I could arrange. We didn’t see a single museum. Didn’t take the ferry ‘round the Statue of Liberty. Empire State? Nope. Because nothing -- and I mean nothing -- says quality time like pounding the pavement in search of the perfect summer dress. And shoes. And maybe some new frilly unmentionables.

Over the next three days, we also somehow managed to take in a movie, walk the length of Central Park, scarf some Gray’s Papaya, brunch with the girls in Park Slope and even take Ben up on his invitation to an early Sunday dinner. But that was all just icing on a big, fat shopping cake.

Mmmmmm cake.

I realized on Friday that, in the last five or six years, my sister Audrey and I have probably spent less than a week’s time together. That’s insane. And over the weekend, I grew a new appreciation for her ability to maintain comfortable silences, easy-to-please manner and love for a good long ramble through… the Ramble. She’s Mini-Me. But because of college transience, the years and geographic distance between us, I didn’t even know it. So really, had there been no marathon shopping, had we done nothing more all weekend than plant ourselves on my couch and watch Calendar Girls (yeah, we did that, too), it would have been pretty fucking fantastic.

Posted by This Fish at May 3, 2005 10:05 AM
Comments

Nothing better than re-discovering your sis...glad you had a great time!

Posted by: Wicked H at May 3, 2005 10:12 AM

Did you adequately booze it, as well? I find that's a big key to sibling bonding.

Posted by: Mike at May 3, 2005 10:55 AM

Nope. She's a non-drinker :)

Posted by: Fish at May 3, 2005 10:56 AM

shopping is the only thing my sister and i have always done well together :)

i told you that you needed to go shopping...i wish i lived in New York...i'd be broke...but at least i'd look good...

Posted by: ali at May 3, 2005 11:36 AM

my little sister is a non-drinker, too. it's a good thing she is one of the few people i can stand to be around without a cocktail in hand. :) she is a mini-me for the most part, and is really my favorite person in the whole world. i know i am really blessed to have a sister that i adore - sounds like you are, too!

Posted by: red at May 3, 2005 11:39 AM

Damn, I miss my little sis. Why did I move to the UK again?? Will call her this instant.

Posted by: The Countess at May 3, 2005 11:56 AM

didn't you absolutely hate calendar girls?? we saw it at the show (as we say in texas), and my sis feel asleep. snored and all.

Posted by: Wendi at May 3, 2005 12:09 PM

I ALWAYS wanted a sister. Glad you two had fun!

Posted by: AdventureGirl at May 3, 2005 12:11 PM

nothing like quality time with a sibling. time to give my own sister a call.

Posted by: essny at May 3, 2005 12:19 PM

My sister visited me this weekend too and it was great! Much the same agenda as you two! Miss you already S, have a good day back at work... Hope you are wearing lots of your new clothes :)

Posted by: elise at May 3, 2005 12:53 PM

I love my sisters too. I only interact with them through email unfortunately.

They live too far away.

Posted by: She who shall not be named at May 3, 2005 02:09 PM

umm, I think I meant...sisters and not sister's..dammit. *grin*

Posted by: She who shall not be named at May 3, 2005 02:13 PM

Fish, did you find that perfect little summer dress? Because I have been searching. And searching.

Even Anthropologie let me down, those bastards.

Posted by: Clink at May 3, 2005 04:16 PM

Aw, Fish! That sounds perfect! I would love to spend that kind of time with my brother.

Posted by: africankelli at May 3, 2005 06:01 PM

I'm so glad you had such a wonderful weekend "rediscovering" your sister, and "Calendar Girls" is a darn good movie, or at least I thought so.

Posted by: Ashleigh at May 3, 2005 08:05 PM

four flights? the lift in my building has been out of order for the past 6 days. i live on the 11th (and highest) floor. my laundry is piling up, overtaking the floor because i really don't want to climb 11 flights 3 times to take them down to the wash. now i have no (nice-smelling) clothes.

Posted by: nu. at May 3, 2005 08:09 PM

just found your blog... lovin' it. Hopefully you'll visit mine sometime.
http://mooalex.blogspot.com

Posted by: LJ at May 3, 2005 10:04 PM

I have never seen that flick! ANd I, supposed to be the movie buff! LOL

Posted by: mrsmogul at May 4, 2005 08:24 AM

I have a big sis. She's great. She used to live about 2000 miles away, but I talked her into moving to the same city, so I could better take her for granted.

(Pleased to meet you, btw)

Posted by: HarleyWriter at May 4, 2005 09:14 AM

awww. You just made me call my brother. Not the same, but still amazing for a man and a woman to be so much alike...its like an understated best friend.

Posted by: Jasika at May 4, 2005 03:06 PM

Love your blog! Come read about life on the other coast sometime: http://ravingloon.blogspot.com : )

Posted by: Raving Loon at May 4, 2005 07:27 PM

*whew* glad the clothes are safe.

And yes, we are all wondering where the perfect summer dress is to be located! (I thought I found it at the Palisades Mall, but at $220, that ain't the perfect dress.) Please share your treasure map!

Posted by: MzOuiser at May 9, 2005 10:08 AM