The chills I got every time I saw her dance were one of the best feelings in the world. I would sit in one of the front few rows with my too salty popcorn and smile until it hurt. I sat up straighter every time she came on, just hoping to get a little closer to her grace. I never felt such pride as when I saw my little sister dance.

My one and only sibling, Samantha, is my best friend, and her accomplishments give me some of the best feelings of achievement. Her last dance recital was this past Father’s Day and she was beautiful. What was once a tedious task has now become some of my favorite memories. I have found that watching her dance is a surefire way to lift my mood. She also recently graduated from high school, and watching her walk up to receive her well-deserved diploma brought a great big grin to my face. It was the kind of grin that would burn right behind your lips because you could never smile enough to show how delighted you are. The anticipation I felt during the entire graduation was equal in intensity to when I waited to receive my acceptance letter to Marist. Each holds a special place in my heart and I will always remember the butterflies I got. Samantha is my pride and joy and I will never be able to explain how much I love her. I am blessed to have such a wonderful young woman as my baby sister and I hope everyone will have a love that at least comes close to the love I hold for her. Move over mom, because my pride can outmatch that of even the toughest mama bear.