Here you are a day over 18 and applying to schools people could only dream of getting into, Bowdoin, Boston College, Dartmouth, etc. But as you get excited in all your college search I can’t help but remember when we were little. I remember the first time I was old enough to realize that you were my first playmate. I remember playing house, school, and how I would bribe you to play street hockey with me if I got Mom to give you more barbies or dolls. I remember you jumping on my bed every Christmas at ungodly hours of the morning and making me walk out to the tree to make sure Santa came. He always did and I never told you this but I always let you find the pickle on the tree because I loved seeing your face when you got to open the first present. I remember going to our first learn to skate and you getting pushed on a chair by Dad for the whole time. I remember car trips where you would fall asleep listening to your raffle tapes. And the car trips where you made me play one hundred games of travel UNO. I remember going to the pool every day during the summer and you dragging me to deep end swim because I was scared. You were my little sister yet you always were dragging me to do something I was scared of. I remember those Christmases when we get our first Nintendo, i pod, and phones and the Wii you had to have yet never used. For every gift you got I wasn’t jealous, I loved seeing you happy.
As we grew older I remember my first day of Kindergarten and being a little mad we could not play all day but I also remember your first ay of Kindergarten and how excited I was to have you at my school. I remember going through Barstow and the first time we got to get off the bus together without parents. As usual, I was scared but you reassured me but still made me carry your backpack up the hill. I remember all of the hockey tournaments and olive garden and shopping trips too. And all of the summers being home together and waiting for half days and weekends so you, Mom, and I could go on our adventures. I remember graduating eight grade and being pretty scared about high school. And once again you made it okay because I realized you were looking up to me. And then you graduated eight grade and I was so excited that you would be in high school with me. You suffered through me learning how to drive because I was scared of that too. Then you learned how to drive and of course, you were better than me. And then there was my senior year and college search and I did not understand why you were upset with me
But now I am in a similar position, you are growing up before my eyes. I am away at college you have to deal with mom and dad by yourself and now you are facing the thought of being away home. I know how you feel but I don’t know how I feel about you growing up. I don’t think I am ready for you to go away and be by yourself in such a difficult world. No Mom or Dad to protect. I always imagined you to be a little kid who loved mac and cheese and barbie dolls but it is time for you to grow up and experience the world and accomplish the dreams you deserve to accomplish. Just remember I always have your back no matter how old you are. Thank you for being a jack of all trades but most of all my little sister. I’ll love you always.
