My Favorite Sister

In yesterday's blog, I told you a little bit about my upbringing. Today, I feel like talking about that some more. Specifically, my sister. She's 15 months younger than I am, but she feels like my twin. Obviously, I don't remember a second of my life without her. We don't really resemble each other and our personalities are very different. She's sensible. I'm crazy. She's understated. I'm over-the-top. She's quiet. I'm loud. Seriously...we are nothing alike. Except that we are each other's best, best, bestest friend. There are five people on this Earth I could not live without: Brad, my girls, and my Sis (sorry Mom and Dad).

We were raised on a farm in the middle of nowhere. The nearest house was a mile away. To get to my house, you went ten miles south of town and down a mile-long gravel road. When someone went down our road, we all stopped what we were doing and watched them drive by. I think that because my sister and I were raised in our house by ourselves (no neighborhood kids to play with) we had no choice but to be nice each other. If you were fighting, you didn't have anyone to play with. So it's hard for me when my girls fight because I'm not used to that. Sisters don't fight, or at least that's what I thought. I think my Sis and I have fought less than 10 times in our lifetime. Brad assures me it's totally normal since he used to beat the living daylights out of his little brother (but he still loved him). But I digress...

We were only a year apart in school and went to college together. She went on to grad school and I got married. Then she met a friend of ours at Brad's 30th birthday party. Mark and Brad had been friends for years - even before Brad and I knew each other. They got married and then she moved away. Far away. Well, not THAT far away, but far enough that I can't jump in the car and see her whenever I want to. And that makes me sad. I miss her a lot. She's lived far away for 8 years this month and it's STILL not any easier. I wish we could meet for coffee. I wish we could have playdates. I wish we could go out for drinks during Happy Hour. But I get to see her next month and I'm excited about that. When we see each other now, we make the most of it - probably to the point that we get sick of each other, if that's even possible.

So thanks, Mom and Dad, for giving me the MOST PERFECT one in the history of Sisters. I love you, Sis.