A Milestone Ceremony

It’s my sister’s birthday on 25th May; she’s 50. Just in case she’s forgotten or chooses to tell everyone she is only 39. No-one would believe her anyway. I thought it might be fun to write a milestone piece for her. She won’t tell me any more. I’m sure there’s many who will though! I’m all ears.

Do you like her photograph? I know I’m biased, she’s beautiful.

So here it is Catherine. Here’s to you and your 50th birthday. And here’s to the next 50.

Milestone Piece

Good evening and welcome to you all. You are here today because of your connection with my baby sister, Catherine, who has organised her 50th birthday party celebration here at Cross Flatts Recreational Club. Celebrations are a time to share memories, create new ones, reflect on the sad, and remember the good. I am sure by the time the evening is over there will be things I hear that I never knew about our Catherine. Tell me all the gossip later.

But for now, let’s step back in time for a few moments as I share some of Catherine’s life with you. Catherine Anne was named after mine and our Carol’s middle names, which I think is rather lovely. Hopefully our Catherine thinks so too. If not, she’s had ample time to change it.

Born on Saturday 25th May at 7.30am at Hyde Terrace Maternity Hospital in 1974, she was to become an eagerly awaited third edition to our family. All girls. At the time apparently one of the wards was called Barren Ward, clearly not strictly true in a maternity hospital. Whether that’s accurate or not, I can’t confirm, despite my prolonged efforts but, if it is, it’s clearly an interesting choice of name.

It was the year when that little-known group ABBA had just won the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo and what a fairytale story that turned out to be

It was the decade of those iconic films, Star Wars; Close Encounters of the Third Kind; Jaws; Grease; Saturday Night Fever and the Exorcist. What a film that was. Disaster Films were also to make their mark with The Towering Inferno, Earthquake, The Poseidon Adventure and The Hindenburg taking centre stage.

On a lighter note, we had the emergence of glam rock, characterised by outrageous clothes, flamboyant behaviour and platform shoes, and of course punk rock.

In the pop charts we had Mud; Suzy Quatro; Alvin Stardust; Slade; Bee Gees; Bay City Roller’s; The Osmond’s and The Rubette’s who were at number 1 in the UK with Sugar Baby Love. It was also the decade when Elvis Presley died. Someone, who needs no introduction.

Catherine loves the dulcet tones of Tracy Chapman a prolific American song writer who rose to fame following the release of her first album aptly named Tracy Chapman and the song ‘Fast Car’, a poetically moving and profoundly empathic tune about despair, disillusion, desire and ultimately survival.

On our brown box TV’s, we had the emergence of sitcoms including Bless this House; On the Buses and Steptoe and Son, to name but a few. That was the time when our sit-coms, many would argue, were the best. Some very much politically incorrect now though.

But none of this mattered to our Catherine because this was the decade in which she was born. I was 11 and our Carol 10.

Catherine was a beautiful little girl with the most beautiful piercing blue eyes and gorgeous smile. Although as a child she didn’t have too many health problems, she did need her tonsils removing. Whilst in hospital she was asked if she would like to request a song for the hospital radio. She chose Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles. Good choice. I think?

And whilst there has been some amazing times in her life, including the births of her 4 children, Emily, Darren-Lee, Connor-Jake and Liam, and now her 4 grandchildren Ruby, Evie Grayson and Amelia, Catherine, as with us all, has experienced much sadness.

I was privileged to watch her give birth to Connor-Jake by caesarean section on Thursday 15th July 1999. Less than two weeks later we were sat with dad watching him peacefully pass away at Dewsbury District Hospital. The grief surrounding dad’s death; unbearable.

But as they say…time moves on and whilst we never forget those we have loved and still love today; death is simply a part of life and the price we pay for having so many wonderful people in our lives.

So, what do we remember of my baby sister? What do you remember?

• Well, like most baby sisters, she was a pain in the bum.
• But because there was now 3 of us, I did manage to get my own bedroom.
• As a young person she loved tomato juice. I don’t think it progressed to Bloody Mary’s, at least not
  while she was underage.
• Holidaying in Primrose Valley. How different that looks today.
• She was my bridesmaid at 11 years old in 1985. I honestly think she was taller than me at 11, than I was at 21 with high heels on.
• She was an adult when I married for the second time. At least she told me she was.
• She forgets she has an older sister most of the time. I have to keep reminding her that I exist.

Our Catherine as with us all, has many faults. Just too many to share. Only kidding. What I do know is that she has loyalty to her family. She will back them when the chips are down, and remain standfast despite the odds. Catherine likes bingo, the occasional drink and despite my constant nagging, still smokes as evidenced by her absence on occasion.

For our family the last few years have been challenging. We have lost uncle Tony, auntie Vera, and auntie June who sadly died this month. Another matriarch lost. Another beloved auntie. So, it is at this moment that I would like you all to join Catherine in a toast. A toast to each and every one of us, a toast to the celebration of life and those who sadly are no longer with us. And as you raise your glass to celebrate my sisters 50th birthday, how she’s survived that long, I will never know, take a few moments to reflect on your life and those of your family, because right now, is all we have. May I ask you to stand and say 3 cheers for my little sister, Catherine. Hip Hip…Hooray. Hip Hip…Hooray. Hip Hip…Hooray