To my little sister Alicia,
I remember running into the hospital room on November 11, 2000 to meet you, my baby sister. When I got there I was given a stack of presents that were from you. A sparkly, pink tutu and art supplies kit that was shaped as a butterfly. My 2 year old self was convinced they really were from you, because for some reason I thought you could do anything. (And boy was I right.)
Now, it’s 2019 and you are off on your journey to become a doctor.
Watching you begin this new chapter makes me reminisce of our childhood. There were so many hilarious, amazing, and unforgettable memories – and some bad ones too. But we were together through it all. We took on everything that we were faced with, together.
I remember the day you came flying down the driveway screaming louder than I ever heard before, because a “rat” was chasing you. Then we found 3 more “rats” and all the sudden had four baby kittens.
I remember when we were so little, being so excited to go swimming at the condo in Florida and when we were about to walk through the gate you face planted on the pavement. We didn’t get to swim that day, and I was a pissed off little 4 year old. I remember spending all those nights there, in our room, playing with the bamboo tapestry behind the bed because we liked the sound it made.
I remember having a skating competition the same exact time and day you were graduating from kindergarten. I won my first gold medal that day. I think you were my good luck charm. I was sad I couldn’t be there at your Kindergarten graduation, but I won a gold medal for you.
All the times we had hoolahoop competitions in the driveway, countless lemonade stands, riding the golf cart around the orchard ALL the time, I mean the list goes on forever.
I remember the last day of 5th grade for me, was your last day of 1st grade and I asked our old bus driver Mr. Darren if I could sit next to you in the front of the bus (since we always obliged by the assigned seats). It would be til I was a senior in high school and you were a freshman that we would be in school together again. Then that time came around, and I insisted on sharing a locker with you so I could see you throughout the day. I don’t think you liked it too much, but I did – haha. I wish we could have that year again so I could see you every day.
I’m going to miss our “sleepovers”, which is just sleeping over in my room instead of your own. I know, I’m being dramatic because you’ll be home for breaks, but still. Even though I sometimes give you a hard time about it when you ask, I love sleepover nights.
All the hardships we faced together shaped us to who we are today. We didn’t have an easy childhood by any means, but I think it’s one of the reasons why we are so close now. I wouldn’t trade our bond for an easy life.
You have come so far from those times and I’m incredibly proud of you for staying true to yourself and following your dreams. You never let anything get in your way. No matter the adversity you had to face, you continued with your head up. You never let your grades slip, everyone knew you as the happiest person around, you never let peer pressure effect you. Sometimes I don’t know how you did what you did with the hardships we were given, but I’m so incredibly proud of you.
You are someone who knows what they want and won’t stop til you get it. I look up you because you are strong, confident, and unapologetic. You live your life for you and that’s the best thing you can do. Never let anyone dull your enthusiasm.
I’m so blessed to have a little sister as great as you.
I wish you the best of luck and happiness on this journey. It’s a whole new set of blank pages that will soon be filled up with tons of new memories with new places and people. I can’t wait to see what you do in the next four years and all the years to come after that.
You are going to grow, learn, and create so many memories in this new chapter, but don’t forget to skim the old pages sometimes.
I already miss you so much but I’ll see you soon. Don’t be surprised if I show up one day, it’s only a 3 hour drive 😉
Love,
Christina
