Happy Birthday to My Sister (only 1 week late)

It was my big sister's birthday a week ago.  We were born 10 years and 1 week apart.  It has never seemed to matter that we are so far apart in age.  As far as I can remember, we have always been close.  In fact, the older we got, the closer we seemed in age.

And just last week, James asked if Auntie Kristen was my little sister.

She got the good genes.

This post, albeit a week late, is to celebrate my sister.  I love her more than I could ever say.  But I'll try to say it a little bit here.

It must have been a bit of a shock when I came along.  Before me, it was just Jay and Kristen.  And you know that 3 can be an awkward number.

But my big sister never made me feel like I was a nuisance.  Actually, I was always sorry for girls that didn't have a big sister because mine was so great.  

I'm certain I annoyed the heck out of her, as little sisters are apt to do.

One of the favorite family stories tells of the time we were all in the car, the red Volvo, driving home one of Jay's friends. I must have been pretty little, maybe 3, because I don't remember this at all.  Apparently I turned to Jay's friend and said, very sweetly, I'm sure, "my sister says you're ugly."  

Kristen was in the car.

And then, as my Mom tried to laugh it off and assure the boy that Kristen never said that, I continued in a loud, sing-song voice, "you're ugly, you're ugly, you're ugly, you're ugly."

Nice.

Real nice.

Little sisters are a total pain.

I do , however, remember tormenting her when she had boyfriends.  I loved to squirm right between them on the couch, or even sit on the boyfriend's laps. .  I would do gymnastics in the living room while they tried to talk.  I brought out my dolls and asked them to play house.  

I made a general nuisance of myself.

And I don't ever remember Kristen getting mad.

She is the most easy going person I know.

And way too nice.  

She should have booted me right out of there.

Instead, she took me shopping to the mall.

When she turned 18 she got her first car, a tan Toyota.  I thought it was so cool.

She'd drive me to Plaza Carmino Real and take me shopping with her tip money.  

I still remember some of the outfits she bought me.

They often involved acid wash jeans.

And I loved going shopping with her because she had style.

I was always going into her closet and trying on her clothes.  

I'd beg to wear her yellow and black check jacket that was, hello, miles too big for me.

She'd let me.  

We'd eat at Taco Bell and spilt a Nacho Bell Grande.

She'd take Ben and I to the movies at The Mission Theater.

She gave us allowance when my parents couldn't afford to.

Kristen is one of the most generous people I know.

She's always been that way.

She takes care of everyone else first, and herself last.

When I was in high school, she took sign language classes with me at Palomar.  I couldn't drive yet, so she took me.  We had a lot of fun together.

Occasionally we'd skip class and go to the dollar theater, or shop at Pic n Save.  One time we ran out of gas coming home from class, late at night on the dark, windy roads near Live Oak Park.

"Don't tell Dad," she said. "He'll never let me drive you anywhere again."

But that was the only time she ever said that to me.

She kept me out of trouble.

We walked our dogs together and when I met Aaron and was gaga over him, she listened patiently while I read her his letters and told her everything about him.

She was the perfect big sister.

I've always known Kristen loved me, but I never really knew how much until I was 9 months pregnant with my first born.  My ankles were swollen beyond recognition.  I wore sweats constantly.  I looked and felt like a beached whale.

My sister was 9 months pregnant when she was the maid of honor in my wedding.

It was hot.  She wore stockings.  And heels.  

She HATES people looking at her.

But she did it for me.

Now that is some serious sisterly love.
She is amazing.
When that baby was born, 3 weeks after my wedding, Kristen let me be in the room.
I have never seen her more beautiful or more happy than when she held Simon for the first time.
I am so grateful I was there to share that moment with her.
I will never forget it.


I have to admit there will be a part of my heart that will be sad if Lilly never gets a sister.  Oh yes, she loves her brothers, but there just isn't anything like a sister.
I thank God He gave me one.
She is one of the best parts of my life.
I love you sis!


Love from,
Greta