Sister Sister

Sisters. I think this word stretches far beyond the definition of blood relative.  Out of curiosity for what the "academic" definition of sister is, I went to dictionary.com and this is what I found:
Sister
- noun

1. a female offspring having both parents in common with another offspring
2. Also called half sister, a female offspring having only one parent in common wit another offspring
3. Stepsister
4. a female friend or protector regarded as a sister
5. a thing regarded as feminine and associated as if by kinship with something else
6. a female fellow member, as of a church
7. a female member of a religious community that observes the simple vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience
8. British, a nurse in charge of a hospital ward; head nurse
9. a fellow black woman
10. a woman who supports, promotes, or participates in feminism
11. Informal, a form of address used to a woman or girl; esp. joculary or contemptuously
- adjective
12. Being or considered a sister; related by or as if by sisterhood
13. having a close relationship with another becuase of shared itnerests, problems, or the like
14. Biochemistry. being one of an identical pair.
Who knew the dictionary definition was so robust? 

I am the oldest of three girls.  Yes, that caused for a lot of emotion, some name calling and lots of barbies but also made for some fantastic memories and learning together as we've grown up.  I am three years apart from my sister Jackie and seven years apart from Sarah so as you can imagine, during some of the more "awkward" stages of growing up it seemed we lived worlds apart.  We are still in very different phases (not to mention we live in three different states) - I got married this past summer, Jackie graduated and is establishing herself in a city and at a new job and Sarah graduated highschool, and has since started college.  Through ups and downs and all the events of our life, we are and will always remain sisters.

I also now have a sister-in-law, which I couldn't be more excited about.  I'm lucky that we have established a great relationship, and I consider her a very close friend.  I've always been the oldest in my family, so I have to admit its very fun to have an older sister to look up to and ask advice of.

I started thinking about sisters the other day because another word has popped up quite a bit lately: Sorority.  Now that's a whole new sense of the word "sister".

I was a member of a sorority during college - it was exciting and fun and I met quite exceptional women as a part of the group.  I remember joining this sorority, and it seems like it just happened yesterday.  After a week of parading around to visit the different houses where essentially each girl is interviewing one another - "do I want this person to be my sister?".  There is bouncing up and down, clapping, singing, collages, bulletin boards, dresses, perfectly combed hair and after a week of exhausting meeting and greeting - at last the moment you actual become a part of a sorority.

I poke fun at the whole process now, but admittedly I chaired the circus when I was a senior in the sorority house.  I took the job over after my friend in the house needed some help since she was preparing for the LSATS.  We planned the recruitment event together and all was well until a few days before rush was to start.  I remember it vividly, a room full of girls practicing and getting our house ready to show off to the wide-eyed and expecting rush candidates.  I felt some sharp pains in my stomach, after trying to ignore it, even going to the gym to try to "work it out" - my friends urged that it was time to see a doctor.  I'll admit I'm pretty stubborn but when my sorority sisters stepped in, looked me in the eye and said, don't worry, we got this - I finally gave in.  To make a long story short - I ended up at the hospital, it was appendicitis.  Yeah, I thought your appendix was that useless organ in your body too.  Well, when it wants out - it want out! Another of my friends rushed to be by my side - even holding my hand and helping me waddle down the hall after the medication kicked in (and boy does it kick in)... Experiencing an ordeal like that really draws attention to the great friends and sisters in life.

Sarah just went through the recruitment ritual at her university and I received an excited call from her with the news she had just joined a sorority.  Ironically, Sarah joined the same sorority that Jackie was part of at her university.  I suppose now they will reach a whole new level of sister.  I'm really happy for her joining a group of girls that she'll become close with and share friendships with over the years.  I had 14 sorority sisters attend my wedding - they flew and drove from all over to be there for me.  What an awesome thing to have so many sisters.

I suppose as you go through life, you gain close relationships with people, and when you are lucky, those relationships extend just that bit beyond friendship - the kind of relationship where you would bend over backwards, share stories and laughs, good times, embarrassing ones and everything in between.  That to me is the definition of sister.