Henry's Sisters Quotes

“Sisters are the worst. And they are the best. A sister can be awful and complicated and loving and protective and petty and competitive, and when you die she is the person you want beside you holding your hand. Somebody's gotta organize the potluck after the service and you know your husband's not gonna be up to the job.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“Sometimes things are so insanely private, you don't even want to talk about them with yourself. Don't talk about them, don't wrestle with them, don't let them run you over. Let it be.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“If Christ had wanted us to wallow in regret, he would have said so. If Christ had wanted us to let guilt rule our past and future, he would have told us. He did not.” Father Mike clasped my hands again. “If Christ felt we were unforgiveable, he would not have offered forgiveness. God would not have sacrificed his son for us.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“As an adult, I could understand Momma’s moods, the swings, the unbelievable stress, and the depression better. She was suffering more than any of us. But knowing what caused parents to act as they did in childhood does not make childhood better.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“My nightmares continued, my fear continued, my depression continued to slither around the corners of my mind like black ink, but I was functioning. I was proud of that. Sometimes, I think, we have to praise ourselves for simply functioning. Simply getting up to try out another day.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“I may have mentioned that we are no strangers, as a family, to being broke. It’s how we lived our whole life after our dad left.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“Please, Bao,” Janie begged. “We need help.” He raised his eyebrows and said quietly, almost to himself, “I have job. First time long time. I have job.” He grinned again and his face lit up. “I have job. I be here tomorrow. Early.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“Henry and Grandma skipped under the willow trees. Heck, if dementia transformed me into someone with purpose and happiness like Grandma, I wouldn’t complain. Not at all. But I would want a copilot exactly like Henry.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“Ladies!” Parker spread his arms out wide, as if he thought we would race to him for a hug. I spread my arms out wide, too. “Adulterer! Slime-Man! Mold and scum!”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“Two days later, Janie and I locked up the bakery and drove to Cecilia’s. We were going to melt some of Parker’s tools down with a blowtorch as a sisterly bonding activity.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“Most assuredly!” Dr. Janns went on. “Your coloring is rosier than it was yesterday, your vitals are vital! You don’t seem tired. You’re rockin’, Mrs. Bommarito. Rockin.’ Fantastic and beautiful, if I can say so.” My mouth fell open. I couldn’t believe it. Momma tried to hide her smile. “I’m a strong woman.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“Grandma leaped up on her chair, hand shielding her eyes from the sun. “I see a ship! We’re saved!” she shouted. I waved my napkin. “Hooray!” Everybody else waved their napkins, too. We have to do this or Grandma gets upset. It was pathetic how easily I was falling into the Bommarito family insanity.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“Bao came in with his chess set and played by himself with his one good hand. I brought him coffee and a slice of my fresh pumpkin bread. He smiled a little, lips turning up, creakily, as if they hadn’t had much practice in that department for several decades. His scar peeked at me. His aloneness peeked at me. His pain peeked at my pain, I was sure of it. And that’s why I liked and related to Bao. Pain. We had that in common.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“Here’s what I know: Never underestimate what you can learn from women older than you, especially the ones with white hair. Those gals know everything”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“You sing good, Is,” Henry told me, rocking back and forth. “Jesus loves you!” I rolled my eyes. Father Mike clapped. He’s a sneaky priest.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“God saves the worst of us, Isabelle,” Janice said, fanning herself with her handkerchief. “I’m living proof of that. Now, up you go heavens! The teenagers are coming in!” She caught her breath. The tears gone, purpose behind those eyes. She got behind me and—I am not kidding you—she pushed me until I was up on that stage in a not-so-Christian way.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“What would Father Mike think of my bra burning and the events that led up to it? What would he think of the men? The selfishness? He wiped the tears off his cheeks with both hands, then boomed, “Dear girl, I need you in the choir immediately.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“Oh, for heaven’s sakes.” I gave her a hug and we breathed together, head to head. In and out. Quiet. Peaceful. The wind outside windy-ing around. “We’re pathetic.” Problems can be so overwhelming. So huge. So unfixable. I believe that the human mind is a labyrinth of guilt and regrets and pleasure and passion and memories. But if you have someone to put your head together with, temple to temple, their heat sharing your heat, their pulse beating in time with yours, their warmth your warmth, life is better. Not perfect, it can’t ever be. But it’s better.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“We weren’t screwing around. We never did. Plus, we were pissed. Pissed off at those guys for torturing poor, sweet Henry, pissed off that Momma was in bed again, pissed off there was no food in the house, pissed off we had no dad, pissed off the phone was cut off again, pissed off at our dingy bras. It was endless what the Bommarito girls were pissed off about.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters

“You sit alone in this pink and white houseboat, indulging all your weird habits and number counting and rituals and you write books about torture and murder. Honey.” She did not say the word honey nice and polite. “There’s nowhere for you to go but up.”
― Cathy Lamb, Henry's Sisters