I guess I'm feeling sentimental this year because I seem to be on a roll with honoring my family members on here lately. When you have such wonderful people in your life it's hard not to brag a little.
So...my little sister is 8 years younger than me, and in two days, she will celebrate her Birthday with thousands of Americans around the country. She is a Yankee Doodle girl, born on the 4th of July. I distinctly remember the day she was born. My mom woke up early in the morning, and drove herself to the doctor to see if she should go to the hospital. (My dad had to take a shower...I'm seeing a trend with men and their showers before births) When she got home she hurried my dad along and out the door and my brother and I were left in the care of my aunt. I was a nervous wreck. I don't remember my brother coming into the world, he just always seemed to be there, but this baby, she was going to plant herself into my life and I wasn't sure I was ready for it. I mean, I had to give up my bedroom and move downstairs because of her. I remember going to the 4th of July parade in Butte, but missing my mom tremendously, and having a hard time sleeping because I was sure she had forgotten about me.
Then my new sister came home, and I loved her. Well, ok...we were frenemies for the first 12 or so years of her life. I loved her, of course, but she was a nuisance and annoying, and everything a little sister is to a self centered tween/teenage oldest child. Oh, don't get me wrong, I would have thrown myself in front of a train for my sister, but there was no way I would let her know that.
We had a crazy childhood. I am sure it was similar to many other sisters. We were pretty far apart in age, and I often just thought she was a tag-a-long although she was mostly just wanting to be with her older sister and friends. We have a lot of funny stories about our childhood, and we get some good laughs when the family gets together to reminisce, but that's for another time...I want to share with you about my sister now.
Tiffany is an amazing person. She has always had a style of her own. She is the independent one in our family. She says what she means and means what she says. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to let you know. The interesting thing to me though is that I have been able to watch her evolve into who she is today. She has become one of my best friends. I cherish her opinion, her advice, and her time. She is one of my favorite people to hang out with!
I love that my sister would live in New York in a heartbeat, that she likes nice things, has great taste, enjoys furnishing a home, and eating at expensive and high class restaurants, that she has become a pro at online shopping and knows what she likes! I love her passion for cooking, she is always looking for a new recipe to try, and then someone to share the results with. But here's the thing, my sister is also one of the most down to earth people you will meet. If you need a party organized, she's your gal, she can be found sitting in a corner of couch reading for hours when she finds a good book, she will meet you for lunch and a good talk almost any day, she will help volunteer for her kids' activities, makes a mean German chocolate pie (for my birthday each year if I ask) and will go on a walk/run/yoga date often. Going to a weekly movie with my sister is one of the highlights of my week. We save up all our news and then talk a mile a minute before and after the movie, just to get all our thoughts in before we have to go back to our families. Tiff is hard on herself (I think it runs in the family) she often worries that what she is doing for her kids, for her life, and for herself are what's the best, but she really must know that she is amazing at mothering, sistering, daughtering and wifering (I know they aren't words Tiff, let it go...). Tiff is quiet in nature, but don't mistake her for weak or lacking. She is a strong, and stubborn, and a little on the youngest child side of life...but that's why I love her!
I really can't say enough about my sister. She is someone everyone should know. As her sister though I feel like I have something special with her no one else will ever have. We have the same sense of humor, and if you every walk into a room and we are cry laughing, you might as well walk out, you'll never fully understand why it's so funny anyway. We share the angry hungry gene, the laughing gene, the need for perfection gene, the organization gene, the love of movies and books gene, and the competitive gene. We are so different, yet so similar, it's kind of odd. I guess that's why I am so happy we are friends but more happy we are living this life as sisters.
Happy Birthday Tiff! Enjoy your time in Montana. Miss you already (and yes Tiff, I did spell check this post, and yes I am sure I missed something, but when you're on a roll and speaking from your heart it's just worth all the errors!)
