Family can be by blood or water. I have two sisters by blood, and three sisters by water, or rather by soul.
I got to know them when we all started high school.
The first time I saw Sara, she was wearing Levis 501, Doc Marten’s and a black leather jacket. She was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I remember thinking that my life would be complete if I got to be her friend. I couldn’t believe my luck when she grabbed my arm and pulled me down on the seat next to her.
Sara, 1994.
I met Mia and Anna because of Sara. Mia and Anna knew each other from primary school. They got to know Sara when they worked at the same summer camp at Norrbyskär in junior high.
By some strike of luck, I got to join their club.
Mia, 2009.
Anna, 2009.
During our teenage years, we did what most kids growing up do. We had attitude beyond belief, and did everything to let the world know that we did. We wore very trendy outfits (plastic dresses and pants, 9 layers of different shirts, t-shirts, sweaters and what-not, spray painted nails…). We did a lot of things that our parents did not want us to do. We shared passions and heartbreak. We discussed, quarreled, giggled, cried and laughed together.
After we finished high school, I moved to Stockholm, and Sara went to travel the world. At one point, I thought that we would loose our connection. But we never did. At the age of 40, 25 years after we first met, we have grown to be four very different individuals. We live very different lives, in different places. But we are closer than ever.
Soul sisters visiting Tromsø, 2016.
There are very few people in this world who can tell me that I am wrong in such a loving way as my soul sisters can. There is no roof in our discussions. No walls that prevent us from speaking our minds.
There are very few people in this world, to whom I can more easily turn to with anything that I have in my heart. That I know will listen to anything that I have to say, with critical but loving ears. That will love me no matter what. That I can lean on whenever hell breaks loose, or when I want to fly.
This year, we all turned 40. To celebrate our friendship, we decided to celebrate our birthdays together. First in our hometown, Umeå, and then by going traveling to Italy together.
While in Italy, we talked, and laughed, and discussed. We ate, and we drank, and we swam in the sea.
We also challenged our fear of heights (me), of wasps (Sara), of wild boars (everyone), and of climbing cliffs with sandals (also everyone).
Sara with a half frantic smile on her face. The wasp was in love.
Ponti Romani trail, home of wild boar en masse.
Radical sandal hiking (Anna is wearing sneakers, but Mia was in her sandals)
The sandal conquerer below her conquered cliff.
All in all, we did what we usually do. And it was as good as it gets.
I feel immensely privileged to have both sisters by blood, and by soul. Rock solid super women who will lift me up when I fall, who lets me spread my wings and fly high, but hangs on to my feet when I get too close to the sun.
I love you, sisters!
Advertisements Share this:
