Tomorrow, September 13th is Paulette’s birthday… my sister. We officially became sisters in March 1970 and but did not meet until a short time later. I was 15; Paulette was 12. For me it was an immediate bond. 

We both had grown up far too fast. Our girlhoods were cut short, overshadowed by heavy burdens we never should have had to bear. Not the happiest bond we shared but we understood each other on a very deep level. 

Several years ago we both did dna testing.  Out of 5400 maternal haplogroups that exists, we belong to the same branch. 

Paulette, H6a1b and me, H6a1b2.   Mine sits directly underneath H6a1b on the human mitochondrial DNA evolutionary tree.  Somewhere back in time we have shared ancestry because H6a1b2 shares a relatively recent maternal ancestor with people belonging to the main H6a1b group. 

Not any way a surprise to me that we have an ancestral bond. We have a family bond (too complicated to explain here) and we have a love bond. The last grew over years of supporting each other through life’s up and downs. 

I cannot even think of one time we argued over anything.  I imagine at some point we had different views but nothing that could come between us. In contrast, many, many times we have been a unified force against anyone or anything who would seek to harm those we loved. 

When our mother was in a nursing facility.  The staff there affectionately called us “the sisters.” Honestly, I don’t know if it was affectionate, but they knew we were of one mind with the same commitment and devotion to our mother.

Time and chance brought us together, love has sealed us as one in heart. Paulette was a gift I needed in my life at that time and for every year since.

Happy birthday Paulette. You and me forever and always. I love you.