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GodSistah
12-06-2006, 12:28 AM
Hi, today is my sister Lydia's birthday!

http://godsistah.com/LydiaPHS.jpg

Here she is at 17!

She was a great fan of Janis. When I was a little girl, I used to sit outside her and my other sister Ramona's bedroom and try to listen to the music they were playing as it was seeping through the cracks. When they caught me, they always sent me away to allow them their teenage privacy. Ahhh...big sisters!

So I had to borrow [ok steal] Lydia's albums when she was not around. My favorite were the Janis Ian albums. I never "borrowed" the "Between the Lines" album because that was the Holy Grail and it would have led to a sure and certain death at such a young age for me. But "Aftertones" could go missing for about an hour or so...and so that is the one I would always get caught with.

Lydia passed away last year. She lead a wild and crazy life! Words can not express how much I miss her...and how thankful I am to fate that I was blessed to have such a unique person for a sister! She was the biggest musical influence in my life and I will always be grateful to her for that!

When Janis came to California, I was sure to get my other sister, Ramona, to come out and see her. I brought along a couple of my sister's albums for Janis to sign. I asked her if she would sign them to Lydia, and she did [THANK YOU, J.]. My sister Ramona had no idea I was going to do this. The next day I put them both in frames and gave Ramona the "Between the Lines" album...and I kept the "Aftertones" album for myself!

And let me tell you, it was not easy giving up "BTL" to Ramona! But it was rightfully hers because they were extremely close...confidants and soul sisters...and as for me...

Well, I was just the bratty little sister, sitting in the dark, in the hallway by their bedroom door waiting for Janis to sing, "Belle of the Blues" one more time before I was sent off to bed.

http://godsistah.com/PalmsAlbumsForLydia.JPG

:)

~Andrea~

mixtymotions
12-06-2006, 12:48 AM
What a lovely story, Andrea, & what a lovely tribute to your sister! I've worn out a few copies of BTL myself - vinyl, cassette & cd, and I'm all about Belle of the Blues too! Thank you for sharing this story.

Agnes
12-06-2006, 12:57 AM
Thank you for sharing, Andrea. :) How sweet of you to get the albums signed for Lydia and giving BTL to Ramona!

Dar
12-06-2006, 08:56 AM
Thanks for sharing Andrea. And Happy Birthday to Lydia!

I'm so glad I met you and your sister! Tell her I said hello!

RedjackRyan
12-06-2006, 09:04 AM
What a nice tribute to your sister. Thanks for sharing the story :)

ponytail
12-06-2006, 12:22 PM
A beautiful tribute, Andrea. You make me wish I weren't an only child!:)

gisli
12-06-2006, 12:33 PM
What a story and such a fantastic ide, this is something I am sure Lydia would be so proud of.......you honour her greatly by doing this. A fantastic tribute. Bless you GodSistha.

Eva
12-06-2006, 03:50 PM
What you wrote is very moving Andrea. Beautiful. It is a good thing to always keep remembering and loving Lydia.

Eva