A Dedication

Today is my little sister's birthday. But she's not so little anymore. In fact, the older we get, the more the age gap closes. It wasn't always that way... I used to tease and torment her when we were young, and until she was in junior high she usually did what I told her to do. (Three and a half years makes a big difference when you're five and almost nine!) Anytime I wanted something I was afraid would make my mom mad, I sent Jenny to go ask for it. She was fearless; I was not.

Jenny has always been a go-getter. She knows how to speak her mind, and she definitely has opinions. We both do, but they're often different opinions, and we usually express them differently. I've always wondered how she gets away with being so blunt, but I envy her ability to say what she's thinking. She is quick-witted, incredibly smart, and the life of the party. She's the first one I call on for fashion advice, she's the only one I wanted around when I needed help with my move from Texas to Tennessee, and she's the first one to jump on a plane to come hang out with her nephew.

There is something about a sister that cannot be destroyed by distance or marred by time. A sister knows you - knows who you were way back when, in a way that no one else does. My sister has seen tears of mine that no one else has seen. She was there when I graduated from college, got married, left my home in Dallas, and she was the first person I called when I had a miscarriage. As we get older, I look forward to seeing her with my children, and I cannot imagine anyone else being their aunt. She is a special person, and I hate that I am never there to celebrate her birthday with her in person. So, this blog post is my tribute to her on this, her special day. It used to drive her crazy that I would always be older, but who's laughing now? Happy birthday, little sister. I love you.