Happy Birthday To My Sister

Today is my big sister's birthday. She's kind of a big deal. She's a diplomat for the Canadian government, and basically taught me everything I know about being a girly girl. This woman is incredible, she can pack in three plates of food without batting an eye and then chase it down with dessert. Oh and did I mention she's like 110 lbs? Incredible, I tell ya.

There is kind of a large age gap between us, so to her I was probably the annoying and bratty little girl who followed her around everywhere, but to me she was the coolest person in the whole world. She didn't just listen to Madonna and dress like her, she was Madonna in my eyes. I was cool just by association, and among my friends I was the only girl with the sophisticated older sister. I knew all the words to Hall & Oates songs, got to go to movies without my parents, was sometimes (very rarely) allowed to wear her funky 80s earrings and headbands, and had access to Shiseido makeup.

We have had the most fun times as sisters should and since we love each other so fiercely, we fought just as fiercely, as sisters do. We share so many of the same quirks and idiosyncrasies, know our parents like no one else on earth, have all the same family memories and inside jokes, and will always have an inexplicable bond whether we like it or not.

Ate Joy, you are the best big sister a girl could ask for. Your influence and example have shaped me, and I am very grateful for it. I hope you have the most wonderful day today, and may your life be full of ridiculously happy days forever. I love you.