Hi Auntie,

We spoke just the other day on the phone. You were telling me about your day and what you’ve been up to, and for some reason I couldn’t help thinking how cool of an aunt you are. I wanted to tell you how amazing I think you are, but I just couldn’t find the words.

Remember that one summer my brother and I spent a week at your house for “camp”? You took us to amusement parks and water parks and movie theaters all week long. That was years ago, but we still laugh so hard every time we think about grandma getting stuck on the water slide. Or, how about when I accidentally drooled on your face on that roller coaster, and after that day every time someone sat next to me, you told them they were sitting in the “splash zone”? That’s one of the things that I love so much about you. You can tell a story and no matter how many times we’ve all heard it before, you manage to make it even funnier than the last time. You have the craziest sense of humor and I love listening to you talk. You are so dramatic and I always end up with cramps in my sides from laughing so hard at everything you say. You were the one who taught me makeup tricks and you’ve given me some great fashion advice over the years... remember those matching coats we had?

Remember when I came to work for you during one of my breaks from school? I had just dyed my hair and as soon as you saw, you made such a big deal about it. I had to calm you down and kept telling you it was just hair. I worked in your office with you and you were so impressed that I could file papers so quickly. All the people in your office kept saying how productive and hardworking I was. My response every single time was, “Well, I am my aunt’s niece.” I begged my mom to let me visit you for the week. I kept saying how you needed help in your new office even though we all know how capable you are of running it on your own. There has never been a day where you haven’t been hardworking. You have worked so hard your whole life to get exactly where you are now and I am so proud of you. You’ve got a lot on your plate all the time, but you always had time for a phone call, even if you ended up talking to your dog in the background more than me -- which is completely fine because I think it’s hilarious.

I don’t think I can ever say thank you enough for all the things you do for me. You make me laugh and cry, and I admire you so much. Anytime I think about something you’ve done or accomplished, I think to myself, “Wow, I want to be just like my aunt when I’m a real adult.”

You never missed a birthday, or school play or graduation. And you never failed to tell me that I was your favorite, but to not tell my siblings because they would definitely get jealous. You have been a big part of my life since the day I was born. I never knew I could have more than one motherly figure in my life, but you raised me, and a little part of you has become a little part of me. You are my champion, my role model, my inspiration and I love you so much.

And, in true aunt fashion, I can hear you saying back to me, “I love you more.”