A bit about Beth

Let me say a few words about Beth, my first baby sister, who arrived in my life when I was 17 months old, still a baby myself. I don't recall ever being jealous of Beth--she was the "bug-eyed boopsie," the bubbling, effervescent outgoing little girl who made friends like nobody's business. I was in awe of her ability to attract people to her orbit. She didn't take life as seriously as I did, and that was refreshing.

My older sister Susan was the smart one, who shaped my political and intellectual sensibilities. I followed in her big footsteps at school, never quite attaining her stellar record. I'd hang out with dreamy Cindy when I was in a caregiving mood, knowing I could help her learn how to walk, or read to her. Margaret was nine years younger, and my first "baby baby" the one I could pretend was my living baby doll.

When I needed to act out, I would seek out Beth. She was my stalwart cohort during the brief period I was the neighborhood bully, walking around bending other kids' fingers back to see when they would flinch. I only did that for a few months, before our parents got divorced and we moved away from my Reign of Terror. Beth was my partner in crime when we committed the dastardly deed of telling our dad we were taking a walk--and then hitting up the local deli for forbidden M&Ms. We were sitting on the curb stuffing our faces with the contraband when Jim pulled up in his old Chevy sedan and caught us in the chocolate-encrusted act. Beth and I were restricted for something like four months for that offense.

Beth and I have taken widely divergent paths through life. She got married young and has spent most of her life as a mother to six amazing children. She's now trying to kickstart a career. She has an amazing business sense and is smarter than she realizes--and probably the funniest person I know. I adore all of my sisters, (not to mention my intriguing brother), and they have all shaped who I am.

This photo says it all. That's me, with the doll, Susan on the right (lusting after the doll), Cindy on the left--and Beth, staring at the camera.