Neither one cared much for the other. But the two sisters did love each other – as siblings mostly do.
Lenore was the practical one. She was solid, trustworthy, and frugal. Marilyn was a dreamer; unpredictable and unreliable. Yet, it was Marilyn who attracted friends and admirers.
Popularity is a funny thing. It seems that God adds a little extra likeability to some of His children and skips others.
Lenore was often passed over by her classmates and then her co-workers when they chose their social cliques. It’s not that Lenore is an outcast, it’s more like she’s in, but barely noticed.
Eventually the two sisters went their separate ways, seeing each other rarely; at the hospital when their mom died, at their father’s bedside when lung cancer struck and killed him. That was it for the sisters. The end of their parents led to the end of them.
At least for a long while.
Marilyn married well, to Tom, a heck of a good guy who adored his dreamy wife. They had three children and they would say; a happy life.
Lenore lived alone but not lonely. She found company in her cats, who amused her and kept her busy with their care and feeding.
She was accustomed to her daily routine. She had a decent job with the electric company. It kept her intellectually stimulated and suited her practical nature. Lenore’s weekends were pleasant enough; enjoying a free concert in the park, church on Sunday, occasionally treating herself to a meal out.
One fine day in early September she was noticed.
A man engaged her in conversation while she was having dinner at the Corral over on Spring Street in the heart of downtown St. Louis.
Lenore and Martin started out talking about the food, their shared annoyance at the rude addition of televisions everywhere on every wall, and finally they talked about Lenore.
Martin was interested. Lenore was interesting. Forty-five years of stories, observations and opinions flowed like a mighty stream.
Meanwhile barely an hour’s drive north, Marilyn was in crisis. Her kidneys were shot. The precious organs placed in her body for the purpose of filtering blood and eliminating waste from her body were dying. Marilyn would be next to go unless she found a donor and had a successful kidney transplant.
It was Tom who thought to reach out to Lenore. It may seem like an obvious option, but to Marilyn, it was a surprise. “Yes! Why not ask Lenore?”
Early on Sunday morning, the very next day after the dinner that would change her life, Lenore was lying in bed stretching her legs and wiggling her toes as she thought about Martin and the amazing encounter that was last night’s meeting.
Everything was suddenly different. Happiness beyond her usual contentment overcame her. Never before had she felt such a variety of emotions and she liked it.
There were two phone calls that morning, twenty minutes apart. One from her new friend, the other from her sister. All this in twenty minutes, from a telephone that only yesterday knew of nothing other than telemarketing calls.
Martin wanted to see her again. Marilyn needed her. Love that lies dormant for so long is that much more brilliant when it emerges.
Lenore lovingly rushed to her sister’s side with Martin lovingly at her side.
The reunion between the two sisters was a holy moment of affection, awe, and discovery.
The doctor came in with Tom to discuss the donor process. The risks and benefits were described. Lenore with her practical nature didn’t miss a beat and immediately agreed to begin testing to see if she was the match to make her sister whole again. She was.
The kidney transplant was a success. Together again, the sisters became the close family they never were before.
The friendship of Lenore and Martin grew into a sacred bond consecrated in marriage. Lenore saw God’s hand all over the turn of events, and that practical nature of hers…well… it became…a little dreamy. Just like her sister.
By Susan Diamond
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