My sister and I are exactly two years apart. When my parents got divorced and we moved in with my dad, I was responsible for helping my sister with all of the things a girl needs a mom for: bra shopping, uncomfortable talks about boys, and all that. We were constantly grouped together and referred to as the, "little girls," in comparison to my much older brother and sister, and I resented it. In return, my sister despised my constant attempts to mother her. I knew I loved my sister, but we fought so much that it wasn't always easy to concede to others that she was my best friend. We fought about borrowing each others' clothes, whose turn it was to clean the bathroom, and who got to watch their show on TV – you know, just normal sister stuff. Some days, these small arguments devolved into screaming matches. On other days, we could share embarrassing stories and private thoughts, stay up until two o'clock in the morning to secretly watch "Degrassi," and go shopping for hours on end without incident. The good days aside, I really didn't think my sister and I had anything in common. We weren't interested in the same activities and we looked nothing alike. I preferred to spend time with my boyfriend than hang out with my little sister. What I didn't notice at the time was that my sister and I had a lot in common, and she was the only one in my life who truly understood me.
You're welcome for the awesome sense of style, sis.
When I moved away for college, I quickly noticed that something in my life was missing. I didn't have that go-to person to sing with in the car or be brutally honest with. No one understood my quirks and pet peeves like she did. It was hard for my peers to relate to my strong aversion to alcohol and partying, which I garnered from witnessing years of substance abuse in my family. My sister understood because she went through it, too. She and I have also gone through life without a true mother figure, and she is the only other girl I know personally who didn't have her mom take her out to go shopping for prom or teach her how to use a tampon. I don't have to try and explain what that is like to her because she lived it, too. When hard times came, she was the one I wanted to see because she is the only one who knows my life, because it's her life, too. Through all of the break-ups, failed tests, and everything else that came along with starting college and moving away from home, my sister kept me positive and focused.
Is it weird that we sometimes just walk around Target for two hours? Nah? Okay.
The bad times made the good times that much better. When I came home on the weekends, we reserved special time for movie nights and drove around town rapping Macklemore at the top of our lungs. I actually started blowing off my high school friends to spend more time with her. She is, without a doubt in my mind, my closest friend. It doesn't matter as much anymore that she used to steal all of my clothes and cut up my favorite magazines for art projects. I know that even if she wasn't my little sister and I wasn't biologically bound to love her forever, I would still choose her as a best friend.
Honestly nearly cried when we sent her off to prom.
People used to tell me that my sister and I would get closer when I graduated, but I honestly didn't believe them. The truth is that I really didn't appreciate my sister until I was two hours away from her. I didn't understand the value of having someone who could truly empathize with you. I had no idea how much we had in common. Growing up close in age and going through the same experiences has made us all the more alike. We still fight like sisters, but I don't think that will ever change. We have the same sense of humor and style and even though she was blessed with a lot more in the boob department, I love her more every day.
Love you, baby sis!
