Tonight I did something I haven’t done in a long, long time. I went to a show at the Iron Horse Music Hall, an intimate music venue in the center of town that I frequented a lot in the days before I was a mom. It was the 20th anniversary show for the band the Nields, fronted by sisters Katryna and Nerissa. When I first moved to Northampton they were part of the extended circle of music business folks who warmly welcomed me into their community because they were friends of my brother, then an alt-country/folk musician. I loved the Nields, and in those good old days went to many of their shows at the Iron Horse (including the famous night the lights went out.)

Tonight was the first time I’ve seen the band play together since becoming a mother to two daughters. Two daughters who happen, of course, to be sisters. Sisters who, at ages 6 and almost-8, sing together, play together, giggle together, and finish one another’s sentences, thoughts, and maybe even breaths. Amazing how that can color your view of a performance featuring two grown sisters. Sisters who also sing together, play together, laugh together, and just so clearly love one another.

One thought ran through my head the entire show (other than “oy, is my back hurting from sitting on this bar stool….have bar stools always been this uncomfortable?”)  – I hope my daughters grow up to be just like the Nields. Not because I especially want them to be musicians, or writers, or performers, or any of the other things Nerissa and Katryna do so well. But because I want them to find as much joy and love and friendship and sustenance in each other when they grow up as they do now. If Nerissa and Katryna can do it, maybe Ella and Zoe can too.

I never had a sister, though I always wished I did (in addition to my wonderful brothers, of course.) If you have a sister, are you close? Even if you aren’t , you know, in a band with her? How do you connect with one another in your adult lives?