Not a bad one in the bunch.

I mentioned in my last post that I have eight sister-in-laws (or is it sisters-in-law?). Well, I do. One of them, JLD, is the one with incredible painting skills and in general, a great eye for color and decor. She's also a natural at making other people feel comfortable around her.

I got thinking about my other 7 SILs and how, amazingly enough, they are all very different. I love them all and wish I could spend more time with them. Some I am lucky enough to know pretty well, but I wish I could get to know some of them a lot better.

So, here's a rundown.

KJS--Disciplined. Hard working. I only get to interact with her about once every two years, but I always have fun when I get that pleasure. Gorgeous smile. The strange coincidence is that she grew up in the same small California town my husband comes from--actually, just down the street.

NHS (T for short)--I still remember taking a message the first time she called our house to talk to my brother. I think I was in junior high. Still, I got married before she and my brother did. He was a little slow and she was patient. But I absolutely love them as a couple. Whatever anyone may say about her marrying my brother, T's got taste--great taste in food, clothes, gifts, everything. In a perfect world, I'd get to go out to lunch with her a couple times a month.

MLBS--we used to sit in my parents' dining room doing jigsaw puzzles and listening to Catching up with Depeche Mode and Yaz--Upstairs at Eric's (which I stole from the brother who occupied the basement at the time). M is so easy to be around and it's utter joy to hear her laugh. And I'd give a whole lot to have skin like hers.

SDS--A foreign girl, and fairly new to my SIL collection. S has an infectious, one-of-a-kind laugh. She loves to shop, and I'd love to go with her any day. The first day I met her (right around the time my brother first met her in person), my brother was talking about how she actually likes walnuts, and I made some off-hand remark about how she was the only one in the family who did. Yeah, she wasn't in the family yet. Oops. I guess I just knew.

SLD--Organized. She actually accomplishes the things I always think I will get accomplished--like sending everyone in the family a birthday card. And she makes a mean coconut cream pie. Oooh.

Just a note here--I have two SILs named Sarah and both are pregnant, due this summer. One is having her first boy (after 3 girls); the other is having her first girl (after two boys).

AFD--such a creative soul. She can make anything--a couch out of jeans? Why yes, but that's really only the beginning. And you should really see her flower beds. Maybe if we rub thumbs some of the green will rub off onto mine. A's got more get-up-and-go than husband guy and me combined. I also wouldn't mind being as photogenic as she is. She glows.

JLD would be next, but we've already covered her. So last, but not least,

EMD--E is a great listener. And it's hard to get her down for long because things just seem to roll off her back. We Schiesses like to pretend to such easy-going-ness, but we're all uptight on the inside. But not E. She also has great ideas. If I ever need to plan a fun surprise for husband guy, I can count on her to think of something fun and unique to do. She's the youngest on my SILs, but I learn a lot from her.

There, a tiny sketch of the women various marriages have brought into my life. I feel pretty lucky that I get to be somewhat related to them. One of these days, when we all have plenty of extra spending money and free time, I'm going to plan a girls' weekend with all of these people. Don't you think it sounds like fun?