Herlong Mansion

Leave it to our treasure hunter sister, Lorraine, to find the diamond in the rough sparkling through the dusty antique town in the sweltering Florida sunshine. It certainly stood out like a hidden gem in a five-and-dime store. Its age-old beauty and charm were not lost on our sister as she was immediately drawn to the welcoming front porch. Herlong Mansion did not disappoint. From the moment she walked through the creaky front door and saw the majestic staircase, she knew this was the place for the sisters.

Lorraine, standing in the ornate parlor of the old house, immediately called Betty, one of the other Floridians in our scattered group.

"I found the perfect place for our yearly retreat," Lorraine said breathlessly into the phone. "It's a beautiful mansion that's also a bed and breakfast!"

Lorraine's phone call started the chain reaction between all the sisters and daughters. Calls went out to NJ, FL, and GA. It wasn't long before the Herlong Mansion was booked for the five sisters and three daughters. Thus the tradition was born.

In the spring of 2019, the eight ladies assembled on the massive front porch of the Herlong Mansion for the first of many group pictures. Now, those pictures have become treasured memories, especially the photos of our sister, Lorraine. Her laughter and smile always lit up our time in the mansion.

Laughter was mandatory during our three-day jaunts. Often, the laughter, along with the wine, would flow through the mansion well into the wee hours of the morning. Somewhere along the line, two traditions emerged. The first tradition is the passing of the cups, and the other tradition is the marking of the pillow.

It's not certain how these customs were inspired, but they most seemingly occurred after the marriage of wine and laughter at 2AM on the screened-in back porch. However they came to be, they are now part of the sisters' covenant which will remain two rituals in the unwritten Herlong Mansion sisters' bylaws.

The cup ritual is simple. Each sister/daughter must purchase a meaningful cup for the next older sister/daughter. Then the eldest sister/daughter buys a cup for the youngest in the group. The cups are unwrapped after a rowdy game of Cover Your Assets or What Do You Meme. Probably the most memorable cup is Betty's, which says, "Sisters are tied together with heartstrings" and has the name of each sister in a heart.

The pillow, too, has a special saying: "Sister is God's Way of Making Sure We Never Walk (or wheel) Alone." We added the "or wheel" part because Jenn, Betty's daughter, is in a wheelchair. Marking the pillow with chosen names follows the cup ritual. Every year, Esch sister/daughter is given a name to match her personality. That name is then written on the pillow.

Busterous, Badass Betty is the keeper of the pillow. Loyal, Lady Lorraine, the eldest of the group, is the first name on the pillow. She's first, too, because she was the one who found our perfect retreat. Although she will only be with us in spirit this year, her place on the pillow will be marked in her honor with our tears.

Astute Affectionate Anne Marie follows Busterous Badass Betty. Then comes Mellow Mischievous Mary Jo. Jazzy Jeanie is next, followed by Joyful Jokester Jenn. Killer Knockout Katie and Lovely Limitless Lulu are next. The last entry on the pillow is Mysterious Myrtle, Lorraine's cancerous tumor. This year, Mysterious Myrtle will meet the sisters' wrath, and her unceremonious demise will be planned and executed.

Myrtle may have taken our sister, but she cannot steal our memories. Lady Lorraine's memory will forever be etched in the fabric of Herlong Mansion. HER LONGlasting spirit will always be with us when we make our yearly jaunt.