Sisters AND Cousins Are Special

As children they went away to boarding school together. As teens they learned their craft and both became talented dressmakers. Prior to World War II they worked together here in this beautiful Devon seaside town (click on pic to enlarge) in their father's hotel/pub - two sisters who were very close. They were glamorous ~ they dated famous British Wimbledon tennis players. They lounged on the sea wall wearing cream linen dresses, elegant hats, silk stockings and soft strapped leather shoes.

For their sister's wedding, they lovingly stitched the wedding dress and the bridesmaids' gowns.

My mother, third from the left and her older sister next to her, they were so close. The bride and the sister on the far right are their twin sisters.

They each married during that terrible time of war and, being close sisters, they each had a daughter of their own within nine months of one another. The cousins ~ me on the left obviously throwing a tantrum, while Susan my cousin walks holding the sisters' hands.

Mary & Sue

Torquay Seafront Promenade - 1944

The cousins grew up just a few miles and a bus ride apart. We had no cars but the double decker bus could take us to each other in about 30 minutes. We spent Summer holidays together, looking into the future...........................

................................enjoying girlie pursuits in the house.............playing on the beach, walking the fields on the cliff tops, picking blackberries and hazelnuts from the hedgerows, sharing pennies at the amusement arcade on the pier, you can see it's still there in the first photo above.

In the teen years school kept them busy, then boyfriends appeared. They met now and then. Sometimes hanging out at the one little coffee bar that had a juke box - feeding it sixpences to hear Buddy Holly sing 'Peggy Sue' over and over again.

Johan, Mary, Bob and Sue (seated)

Torquay, England - Oct. 2007

The years have flown by and the sisters, our sweet Mums, have gone. We no longer live a quick double decker bus ride apart. Sue is still there in that lovely English coastal town with wonderful Dutch husband Johan. I am far away across the pond with Yankee Bob. Sue's unable to fly here to see me but I cross the pond when possible to visit with her. We are always in touch - because we are, and always will be, very special cousins.

Today my cousin Sue celebrates her sixty fifth birthday. Where have all those years gone?

Neither of us was blessed with a sister but I'm so thankful we are cousins.

~~~~Happy Birthday dear Sue~~~~