I know. I know what you're thinking. "Oh god... another open letter? Really? Do I really need to hear about what another person has to say about something cliche?" And my answer is: yes. If you don't like it, click the little red box at the top of your page and I hope you have a wonderful day.

If you've managed to stick around, welcome. Now... the open letter.

Dear my beloved sisters,

I have had a really hard time trying to start this because nothing sounded right. Nothing flowed well enough and nothing sounded right. I know you are my sisters and probably could give a rats ass about this - bring on the family holiday humiliation of when I got cheesy and decided to show you guys love. So, since I had such a hard time starting thing, let's start with the overarching theme of this letter: I love you more than I think you know.

Growing up, I was never an easy kid. Being the middle child came with certain... let's call them characteristics and stereotypes that I fell into almost perfectly. To my older sister, I was the annoying little sister who got away with everything and got you in trouble. To my little sister, I was the pain in the butt older sister who was "too cool" to hang out with you and pushed you away while still pushing your buttons and riling you up. I just want to say from the bottom of my heart that I am 100% not sorry. Ah, got you there didn't I. You thought I was going to apologize for being the reason that you guys can handle every type of person and/or mood swing imaginable? I'm just kidding, but I would like some credit. Regardless of how much I drove you crazy - especially during that time where I went through a total b**** phase, I know you know what I'm talking about - you always showed me a type of love that I will never be able to replace.

You brought me up when I was down, you brought me down when I was waaaaay too far up and you helped me grow into the person that I am today. Being in the middle gave me a really cool perspective with the both of you that I don't believe I ever got to share. As the younger sister looking up at you - my older sister - I don't think I ever told you how much I admired you tenacity and your persistence to get things done and to have them done your way, and that wasn't always a bad thing. Even during our worst fights, I was always scared that you were going to beat me because you have just always been that much smarter than me. When I was little, you knew everything in the world and I wanted to be just like you in every way. I wanted to look at school the way you did, I wanted to have friends like you did, I wanted to listen to the music that you listened to. Everything about you was the coolest thing and I wanted more than anything for time to stop for you, but continue for me, so I could catch up with you and we could be together with everything. Then of course I grew up and became a brat, but even when you thought you kicked me and I faked being hurt so that I wouldn't get in trouble for hitting you on your back, I admired how you never went down without a fight. Physically or mentally. You are the strongest, most independent, more resilient person I know and I still want to be just like you.

Being the big sister, watching my little sister grow up was one of the hardest things I have ever done I think. I had seen how cruel the world can be, how mean people could get, and I saw how much I wanted to protect you from it. How much I wanted to keep you little and precious and darling for as long as I could but I didn't want you to experience the darkness when you were a tiny little beacon of shining light. But grow up you did, and you have blossomed into the perfect concoction of your older sisters. You are smart, and beautiful, and strong, and stubborn - god, are you stubborn. But you're also kind, and creative, and one of the most multi-talented people I think I have ever met. You will always be my baby sister, and I will always try to protect you, but I also want to be your best friend. Someone you can come running to and tell everything to, someone you turn to for advice and someone you can look up too. You keep me on track, and you keep me pushing for more because that's what I want you to see. You make me a better person just by being you and being my sister.

Without the two of you, I would not be who I am right now and I would probably not be writing this - not because I would have died, but because the two of you keep me balanced. It's like were a see-saw. You two on either side and I'm in the middle - juggling and balancing being a good big and little sister at the same time. Which mind you, is not easy... although I'm sure you both have probably seen that already. Without you two, I am just a pole. Just a stick in the ground with no purpose and no reason for being. I live for you two, and I love you more than I could ever tell you or ever know.

But now that the cheesiness is over, be prepared for cheap Christmas presents because homegirl here is broke.

Love,

Your one and only, stick in the mud, pain in the butt, middle sister.

P.s. I get major brownie points for this and you know it. Shotgun whenever I come home, for the whooooooooole trip.