My sister, Sharon, always ‶had our back″. During our lives, Sharon was our caregiver, patient advocate, health services resource, and party planner. An exemplary nurse, friend, sister, and mother, Sharon was a tireless worker. We grew up in a new baby boomer neighborhood that blessed us with a 7 acre field behind our home. Endless hours found us on the baseball diamond, basketball court, or the football field. Sharon and I had dozens of friends and when we did not have swimming practice we were in the field until dark. On one occasion we were playing a pickup baseball game. Some bully was picking on one of the smaller children. Trying to break up the fight I suggested he pick on somebody his own size. He must have ascertained that I was his size. He was 2 years older, 8 inches taller, and weighed 30 pounds more. It did not take much to get me down and start beating on me. My pride was hurt, my face was red. I fought back! In an instant he was pulled off me. I looked over and my sister's fists were beating him like a drum. The boy squealed ‶uncle″ and started crying. My sister kept repeating, ‶No one beats up my brother but ME!" The culprit was never seen again in our neighborhood. There were times when we were young we would have sibling arguments. Sometimes she, and the whole neighborhood, would have tag team wrestling matches against ME! However, just like best friends do, we would go to the local theater most Saturdays and watch serials. Our friendship continued to grow deeply.
