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n’t turn my back on my cousins. Couldn’t call them liars and pretend my mother was innocent. I told the police what I knew.</p><p id="0e84">It was also the moment that I wondered if it was me making the same allegations and looking for justice. Would she stand beside me? It was the first clue she may not be there for me. We might not be as close as I believed.</p><h2 id="05bb">Then there came a major blow-up between us in 2002.</h2><p id="147e">I would not understand her anger towards me until nine years later. It would be then that I’d find out that when the lawsuit was filed against our mother, my sister took our mother to her lawyer and had our mother sign the family property over to her.</p><p id="3e60">My mother and my sister kept this from me. It was a secret they shared until 2011 when one of the cousins told me my mother no longer owned her home. (that is a whole other story).</p><p id="3c8c">My sister stopped speaking to me in 2002.</p><h2 id="c1ec">A few years later I wrote to her, but got no reply.</h2><p id="82ce">It wasn’t until 2007, when I was having a solo show in the town where she lived — a retrospective of my art journey — that I sent her an invitation and tried to make peace.</p><p id="83b9">She went to the show and messaged me afterwards. The ice broken between us. We began talking. But there was a distance I couldn’t put my finger on. It was not the same as before. We stepped around the subject of why we hadn’t spoken in five years.</p><p id="eb92">For me, I felt uneasy around her.</p><h2 id="517b">Something was missing between us.</h2><p id="431f">And my gut was right. All that time, she held that big secret about our family home.</p><p id="138b">In 2011, when the cousin told me my mother didn’t own her home I was totally shocked. In disbelief, I called and had a lawyer check the property title and sure enough, what he’d told me was true. Our mother’s house belonged to my sister.</p><p id="276c">Upset. Angry. Hurt. But playing it cool, I took my time to let my emotions settle. Not wanting to go off half-cocked. Wanting to make sure I dealt with the facts.</p><h2 id="8dde">Did my sister say, “oh, I’ll make this right between us?” No!</h2><p id="bdc3">It was through my youngest daughter and her calling my mother and my sister, letting them know she would have nothing more to do with them and they’d never see her children if they didn’t make it right with her mother.</p><p id="32d4">It was then, and only then that my sister contacted me about adding my name to the deed.</p><p id="383a">I hesitated. Had to decide whether to cut the strings with my sister and my mother. Walk away. Be done with it. Those closest to me advised me not to give up what was rightfully half mine.</p><p id="3495">In the end, I met with my sister and a lawyer and had my name added to the deed. Foolishly or not, I ev

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en pay the legal fee.</p><p id="98e4">My husband told me I couldn’t trust her.</p><p id="6680">Deep down, I remained guarded. Maintained a civil relationship. After all, we were co-property owners.</p><p id="b757">How could someone lie like that? It was clear she didn’t have my best interest in mind. That my feelings didn’t count. At one point when we’d discussed it in an email, my sister bluntly told me she had to protect the property.</p><h2 id="1a0d">Property was worth more than a relationship with me.</h2><p id="cb96">I stayed on speaking terms throughout the rest of our mother’s life. Dealt with closing down the family home in 2016 and selling it.</p><p id="6929">Since my mother’s death, there has been little contact with my sister. Nothing more than a few text messages, the rare phone call. A few infrequent in-person visits.</p><p id="051c">My sister and I have been friends on Facebook since I first joined in 2016.</p><p id="d681">My parents adopted my sister when she was eleven months old. I was almost three. In the last few years, she has met her half-siblings.</p><p id="d9c8">She may not want to remember the life she had. Maybe she wants to focus on the life she could have had .</p><h2 id="9e30">Does it hurt me to be cast aside? Sure.</h2><p id="2a64">Has my sister considered the true impact of her actions? The ripple effect this will cause? How it not only affects me, but my children and how they feel they must choose sides, even though I don’t ask them to? But there is now an awkwardness in their relationship with their aunt.</p><p id="1aab">Why did she unfriend me? I don’t really know.</p><p id="1408">And it’s the silence that hurts the most.</p><p id="0601">The repeat of a familiar cycle in our family, how my mother, the younger sister hated her older sister and didn’t speak to her.</p><h2 id="78bc">Family connections destroyed, or maybe they were never really there. It may have been all an illusion.</h2><p id="da3e">Is this the repercussion of childhood abuse?</p><p id="e2d8">The mature, adult part of me would like to call or message and ask if she meant to unfriend me and ask why. But another part of me knows nothing she’ll say will matter. That sometimes it’s best to just let go.</p><p id="5165">Thank you for reading.</p><div id="2ec9" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/about-me-barbara-carter-67b54018e704"> <div> <div> <h2>About Me — Barbara Carter</h2> <div><h3>Self-discovery and inner healing.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*nCbdaufu4cWLYA-CBixv_w.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

4 Best Christmas Treats in The Netherlands

It’s that time of the year

Photo by Wouter Supardi Salari on Unsplash

Christmas is a special time of year, and it’s even more special when you get to experience the unique holiday traditions of a different country.

The Netherlands has left a huge footprint in my life and Christmas was its most magical time, powered by the amazing Dutch treats.

Here were the four Christmas treats I truly miss:

Oliebollen

Oliebollen, or “oil balls” in English, are a Dutch snack enjoyed all year round but especially during the Christmas season.

Oliebollen are made of a simple dough of flour, eggs, milk, yeast, and salt. The dough is then deep-fried and served with a variety of toppings, such as powdered sugar, sultanas, apples, raisins, and more.

Since I lived near the city center, I went there almost daily. Usually at the beginning of November, right at the entrance of the most vibrant street in the city was a huge oliebollen stand with amazing decorations and the most delicious smell. I knew Christmas had arrived once the smell of freshly fried oliebollen hit my nose and the bright light hit my eyes.

There’s nothing better than enjoying warm oliebollen on a wintery cold afternoon walk, I assure you!

Speculaas

Speculaas is a traditional Dutch cookie made of spices, butter, and brown sugar. The cookies are usually shaped like small figures, such as windmills, animals, or even people. Speculaas cookies are often served alongside coffee or tea during the Christmas season.

You’re living the essence of Christmas in The Netherlands if you have a cup of piping hot tea with a side of speculaas on a winter day.

Appeltaart

Apple pie at Winkel 43 — probably the best apple pie shop in Amsterdam

This isn’t a Christmas treat in the sense that you can actually enjoy it all year round.

I include appeltaart in this list simply because my best friend took me to the best apple pie store in Amsterdam near Christmas and it was one of the best days I ever had.

I’m not a fan of pie, apple and apple pie.

Yet, I was absolutely blown away by the Dutch appeltaart that was freshly out of the oven and topped with Winkel 43’s signature whipped cream. The combination was heavenly!

Pair this apple pie with a cup of latte or hot chocolate and you have the perfect dessert.

Kruidnoten

Kruidnote, or “gingerbread buttons” is what I like to call bite-sized speculaas. It has all the same ingredients as speculaas. The only difference is it’s smaller and harder.

As soon as Sinterklaas approaches, you’ll find these little button-sized biscuits in every supermarket in the Netherlands.

I bought one bag just to try this Dutch Ginger Nut and before I knew it, I was popping kruidnotens into my mouth while studying or watching Christmas movies.

It’s addicting so beware!

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for something sweet or savory, The Netherlands has plenty of festive treats to offer.

If you’re ever in the country during Christmas, try these and make your Dutch Christmas more special and meaningful.

Happy holidays!

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