In October of 1953 when I was 2 years old, my father dropped me off at the Clark's house to attend Joan's 3rd birthday party. I still remember the day very well. Little did I know that that was the day Joan and I would become "Sisters". I waited and waited after all the other little kids went home from the party, but my dad never came for me. It was decided without explaining it to the 2-year-old that since my mother was very ill and could not care for me, I would live a mile away with the Clarks. My Aunt Verona, who I thought was the most beautiful lady I knew, put me to bed that night in the twin bed next to Joan. That was the beginning of many years of nights together giggling in our beds and cooking up trouble, and being partners in crime and fun times. 
On my 3rd birthday in February of 1954, I was still living with the Clark's, a family I loved with all my heart because they did a lot of laughing together, and they loved me. I was very jealous of Joan because she had Blonde hair. And because of a lot of other reasons including that she was always faster and smarter than me. She also got in lots more trouble than I did. I think it was hard for her to be burdened with an extra sister she had to share her mother's attention with. Also, her mother Verona was spending a lot of time with her sister Donna (my mother) who was very ill.
Joan always had boyfriends because she was so outgoing, friendly, fun and beautiful. The boy with us was our 1st grade boyfriend Perry Merkley. Of course he only liked Joan. Oh the stories I could tell about our teenage years (if I had time) about all the boys that Joan could lure around her, she loved being the center of attention with guys! I don't know if anyone else knows what it's like to be on a double date when both guys in the car are in the front seat with Joan and I am alone in the back seat the whole time, but that happened more than once. But thank goodness she let me have Rock because she was with me on my first date with him!
I think I took all her attention away from her own REAL siblings though. Everyone treated us like we were twins. She was so lucky because she had an older sister Cathy, (a talented artist) and an older brother Robert who we called Bob (a football hero). She also had a baby sister Denice. Two other brothers were born after I left their home when I was 7 years old.
(L to R - Me, Bob, baby Denice, Cathy, Joan.) I have many joyful memories of my childhood with the Clark family and with Joan for allowing me to crash her family and loving me anyway.
I think we were maybe a little spoiled. One of the great blessings of living with Joan's family was that I was able to spend so much time with my grandmother Martha. She was widowed while in her late 40's and had to raise her 10 children alone after my grandfather died. My mother Donna was the baby of the family. Joan and I loved exploring her home on Yale Ave in Salt Lake.My memories of my grandmother are about all the dolls she would buy for me, and all the dresses she would make for me and all the perm's she put in my hair. After I left Joan's home, I seldom was able to see her. She died when I was 17 years old and I often think about how special she was and how I needed to be a good person because I cared enough of her that I never wanted to disappoint her.
Joan and I try to get together at least once or twice a year!
Look at Joan and I today. We went to breakfast together to reminisce about our years of being "Sister's". We have turned from darling little girls into squishy chunky gray-haired fun grandma's who like purple! And she still tries to take care of me!
