My family, the Deiss Family, moved to Dale Avenue in 1940 shortly after I was born.  That was the same year that the Arnold Family moved there too.  Michele's oldest sister, Clyta, was my same exact age and we became lifelong friends.  When we were 10, the whole neighborhood welcomed Sandy.  Then, two years later, there was more excitement on Dale Avenue when Michele was born.  These two little girls were loved and treasured.

The Arnolds, one and all, have always been dear to my heart.

Michele was my little sister and was two years younger than me. My older sister, Clyta was 10 years older and my brother,15. 

My mother always told me that I was a surprise and they planned Michele to keep me company.

As children we were close. Singing commercial songs in bed at night, playing fort under the dining room table covered with blankets, lava in the living room, Barbie and school. We shared a bed room until Clyta married and I took her bedroom. Michele then shared my new bed room with me for a year or two as we didn’t want to be apart. 

As we grew older our interests took us in different directions so that in adulthood we had little in common and rarely saw each other.

She was my sister and I loved her.