My mom bought us both "cowgirl" outfits, for what reason, I don't know, but we had the fringe going on, the cowboy hats, and the boots too. These were more dressup/play outfits, but my sister INSISTED on wearing hers to kindgergarten, and frequently I might add. She even wore that thing to school picture day, much to my mom's dismay, but that picture is filled with memories.
At night back then, our family would listen to this local radio station, and you could call in requests. For weeks on end, my sister would call in that song, "Like a Rhinestone Cowboy" and dance her booty off in that outfit, just singing as loudly as she could, not missing a word, but replacing COWBOY with COWGIRL, of course.
My mom still has that outfit that belonged to my sister, and while my sister was able, she made a cowgirl outift just like hers for my little girl. We found out Amy was sick shortly after she gave the outfit to my daughter, so I have never let her wear it; I put it away for safe keeping, and I realize that this strangely will become a family heirloom.
Anyway, while I thought back today, what began as laughter quickly turned to tears...it was so nice to remember those days when nothing was wrong, and we had no clue that our lives would be invaded by cancer. I would never in a million years want to see the future...it would rob us of all of our "in the moment" happiness that we so joyfully get to experience.
