Growing Up With Laura - Part 1    

 

    My chances to find the man of my dreams were ruined. I was 15yrs old and my 10yr old sister had just blown my aspirations to dust. My dad retired from the navy a year prior and we were all (5 of us) traveling the country in an R.V. visiting family and friends before "settling" down. At the particular time I am referring to Mom and Dad had brought us to Walt Disney World. We were camping in the Walt Disney R.V. Park and we would get up, get ready and walk the park all day. Being 15yrs old I would spend an excessive amount of time preparing myself every morning for the crowds in the park. In my teenage mind I thought I would find the man of my dreams wandering an amusement park and life would turn out happily ever after. I was awkward and unsure of myself. Now, enter my sister. She seemed to always know who she was, where she was going and how to get there. If you've ever met someone who is comfortable in there owns skin then you have an idea of what Laura was like. On this fateful day I had my poodle permed hair in a banana clip (what was I thinking?) and dangling earrings. Looking my best we started out to the park. As we enjoyed the day I was ever on the watch for "the one". Laura found a pair of black glasses frames on the ground. They were really thick, heavy frames with no lenses. Seems pretty harmless but you don't know my sister if you believe it could ever end there. She proceeded to put them on which may not have been bad in itself but it is what she did next that was to change my life forever. She stopped walking and waited for us to pull ahead about 20 ft. All of the sudden I heard to most hideous laughing, it was half snort, a quarter wheeze and a quarter guffaws. As I turned around my heart hit my stomach. My sister was bent over slapping her knees making a horrible racket. Then to my utter dismay she looked right at me and I recognized the look. I turned and started to walk quickly in the opposite direction to no avail. "Corrie, ~snort, snort~ wait for me!! ~wheeze, wheeze~I'm coming!!~guffaw, snort, guffaw." As I tried every evasive tactic I knew she became louder and began hobble, hop, Igor walk toward me. I finally turned to face her realizing I couldn't break into a run without looking even more obvious. Through clenched teeth I told her, very quietly, what would happen to her if the glasses didn't come off. The glasses came off but they made reappearances throughout the day. At one point I did get a hold of them and threw them in the nearest garbage but being the determined person she is the glasses resurfaced a few minutes later. That day will forever be etched in my mind. I guess as horrible as it was at the time I can't help but grin when I think about it now. That was Laura, there was nothing in the world that could have ever embarrassed her the way she could embarrass me. I think, in way, Laura helped me realize that what others thought of me wasn't important. It didn't bother her to act that way in front of the whole amusement park because she knew who she was. Her value was not set by others. I guess, as long as I'm thanking her in this roundabout way I should thank her that I didn't end up marrying Mickey Mouse. I have a wonderful husband and two amazing daughters that may never had happened if not for her persistence that I not find true love at Disney World that day.