#73 Brother & Sister
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April 10 is National Siblings Day.
Claudia Evart, after losing both of her siblings early in life, felt inspired to create National Siblings Day, to be celebrated annually on April 10, the birthday of her late sister, Lisette. Here’s her video.
I like what Claudia says about our brother & sister relationships. I couldn’t say it better myself, so here are excerpts from her website, www.siblingsdayfoundation.org:
♥ The siblings bonds are life-long relationships usually lasting from cradle to grave. It is usually the longest relationship of a person’s life and typically much longer than a mother’s and father’s relationship.
♥ Because of the blood relationship, we look alike and enjoy feelings of closeness which may never be surpassed in any other relationship. It is usually the longest relationship of a person’s life (typically much longer than a mother’s and father’s relationship). We must always remember that the strength of families is vital to the strength of our communities, state and nation.
♥ Siblings Day can be celebrated by sending a card or gift or making a dinner invitation* to your siblings on April 10th as done on Mother’s and Father’s Day. This day does not necessarily have to be attached to a monetary gift. Individuals can do something special like a good deed or favor, errand or chore for their brother or sister.
*as my sister did for her brothers right before Valentine’s Day this year — read chaz sez below.
Claudia’s website also states these facts:
- The Siblings Day Foundation is a New York and Massachusetts based organization with the principal office located in Manhattan. It was incorporated in Massachusetts 1997 and became a not-for-profit organization in January, 1999.
- In 1996, Congress stripped itself of the authority to create commemoratives leaving sole power to do so in the hands of the president. During their presidency, George Bush in 2008 and Bill Clinton in 2000 signed a Presidential Message recognizing April 10 as Siblings Day. A Presidential Proclamation is needed to officially establish April 10th as National Siblings Day.
- Since 1998, 85 governors have signed gubernatorial proclamations in 49 states including former governors and White House cabinet members – Tom Ridge of PA, Bill Richardson of NM, Janet Napolitano of AZ, Gary Locke of WA, Christine Todd Whitman of NJ and Tommy Thompson of WI.
- Mother’s Day (founded by Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, PA, 1907) and Father’s Day (founded by Mrs. John Dodd of Spokane, WA, 1910) were established almost 110 years ago.
- Siblings Day follows the spirit of Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Grandparent’s Day – a great American tradition and celebration of family-unit values. It is an uplifting celebration honoring people who have shaped our values, beliefs and ideals. It is a relationship as equally important as a parent’s relationship. Siblings are the reason we celebrate Mother’s and Father’s Day.
- Almost one hundred ten years have gone by without honoring siblings! By establishing this special day each member of the family unit will be finally recognized on a National Recognition Day (Father’s Day, Mother’s Day and Siblings Day).
- Oprah Winfrey featured and celebrated Siblings Day on her national and international daily television show for three consecutive years. SD was broadcasted worldwide on Voice of America six years and covered on many news outlets.
- Siblings Day – a celebration for all ages. It has been recognized as an annual event for thousands of years in Northern India, Guyana in South America and several South Asian countries.
- Siblings Day Supporters: Six former governors who became White House Cabinet Members: Gary F. Locke (WA – ‘04); Janet A. Napolitano (AZ- ‘07); Tom J. Ridge of (PA- ’99); Bill B. Richardson of (NM- ’07); Christine Todd Whitman of (NJ- ’98); and Tommy G. Thompson of (WI- ‘98).
- Congressional Records issued by Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D‑NY) 1997, 2001, 2005, 2008 and 2013. Late Senator Edward M. Kennedy (1997 ‑2010) along with Congresswoman Maloney (1997 to the present) wrote letters to President Clinton and President Bush which resulted in two Presidential Messages supporting April 10th as Siblings Day.
- Gubernatorial messages issued by Governor Steve Bullock (MT) 2013; Governor Jack Markell (DE) 2012; Governor Brian Schweitzer (MT) 2007 to 2009; Governor Jeb Bush (FL) April 2001; Governor Tom Ridge (PA) March 1998; and Governor George E. Pataki (NY) 1997.
- Mayoral messages issued by NYC Mayor Guiliani in 2001 and Mayor Bloomberg in 2002 to 2012.
- Office of Manhattan Borough President, Scott M. Stringer (D‑NY) issued Proclamations from 2009 to 2013. Members of NY State Legislative, Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried (1997) and Senator Catherine M. Abate (1997) wrote letters of support.
I wholeheartedly agree with Claudia, as she reminds us…
“If you are fortunate enough to have a sibling, you know the relationship has a tremendous impact on our lives. It is important that we understand how vital it is to cherish, love and respect our brothers and sisters in the tradition that was handed down by our parents and grandparents. Siblings Day strengthens the family unit by reminding us that a bond with our siblings is forever a special gift.”
If you have a brother & sister, or either, please visit www.siblingsdayfoundation.org
Along with Brother & Sister, here’s AmperArt #75 Family & Friends, the other most special people in our lives.
Spaghetti & meatballs & brothers & sister…
I’ve been working on an elaborate AmperArt piece titled “Spaghetti & Meatballs” to honor a very special event my sister Roslyn hosted for her three brothers, including me. Just us siblings, nobody else, at Roslyn’s dining room table on February 7, 2014, as she cooked all day and served us Mom’s spaghetti & meatballs. Roz pulled out all the stops — a huge spread of Italian appetizers, including my favorite pickled garden vegetables from my childhood; Italian breadsticks, olives (especially my favorite, the wrinkly little dried ones), proscuitto, salame, and provolone. The salad was delicious, but nothing compared to the incredible meatballs, hot & mild sausages, spaghetti & “succo” as we called the sauce growing up. (Our mother was German, but our father, born in Sicily in 1899, must have had his mama teach our mom everything about Italian cooking, because she sure was a great Italian cook. Her German dishes were excellent, too.) Well, Mom must have taught our sister, because that dinner brought back memories of our wonderful family feasts on Sundays on the “fancy dishes” which Roz served our dinner on, the china Daddy had bought Mom after they got married. Deep red filigree with a red rose in the middle of every plate and a gold rim, some of which is worn off now. Thanks, Roslyn, for this most cherished evening where we ate, reminisced, laughed, and enjoyed our deep love as siblings. We even played a fun game that tested our memories as senior citizens: list all the streets to the right and left of our house. We’re not senile yet — among the four of us we remembered them all. We also shared some fun childhood anecdotes and divulged some surprising childhood secrets (ha — blackmail!).
And for dessert: Cannolis!
My sister Roz, in true Italian fashion, sent me home with plates of food, olives and the pickles that I love so much, that lasted me for weeks. (That was the next day; I spent the night and enjoyed her company all day Sunday as well.)
Eventually I will finish AmperArt “Spaghetti & Meatballs” (ever try twisting strands of pasta into an ampersand? In Photoshop?). Fortunately, just yesterday, I discovered National Siblings Day, thanks to Marlo Anderson’s National Day Calendar website: nationaldaycalendar.com so was able to give a shout out to my own siblings with Amperart #73 “Brother & Sister” on this 2015 National Siblings Day. (Maybe I’ll release “Spaghetti & Meatballs” right before National Pasta Day, October 17.)
To my sister Roslyn & my brother Andrew & my brother Robert:
I love you!
Production notes for #73 Brother & Sister:
Original size: 20x30 inches
Program: Adobe Illustrator
Fonts: Eccentric*, Harrington
Ampersand: Hand-drawn
Credits for #73 Brother & Sister:
Silhouettes: stock
*appropriately named font for this brother, I’m sure my family would say
For professional graphic design, please visit Desimone Design.