December 2, 2016

Dear Betsy,

Happy Birthday, Boo! I can’t believe you’re ten years old already. You’ll hear this a lot from me in the future, but I remember when Mom was pregnant with you. We were still living in our old house then. Mom and Dad sat us down to talk and I remember being so confused, but I was so excited when they told us that Mom was pregnant with you! There were a lot of changes that year, and truthfully, I was kind of nervous about all of it. I was excited that I’d be having a new sibling, but we had to move to a new house, and a new person in the family is a big deal! I cried the night Aunt Suzi came to pick Margaret and me up so Mom and Dad could go to the hospital because I didn’t want anything else to change, and it seemed to all be happening so fast. The next day, we went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house because they were going to take us to the Berkley Christmas Parade so we could march with our LaSalette Girl Scout Troop. A few hours before we had to leave for the parade, Dad called Grandpa and told him that you had been born. Then Grandpa handed the phone to us, and Dad, true to fashion, gave us a hard time and wouldn’t tell us if we had a new brother or sister. We begged him to tell us, and when he finally said we had a baby sister, we jumped up and down screaming because we were so excited. When we got to the parade, Margaret and I ran down the street to where the troop was meeting, screaming at the top of our lungs, “WE HAVE A LITTLE SISTER! WE HAVE A LITTLE SISTER!”

You were such a cute little baby. I was usually tasked with changing your stinky diapers, but it was okay because you were my cute baby sister. You were spunky, sassy, smart and funny from the time you were little.

One of my favorite memories with you was when you were about two. You used to come up to my room while I was doing homework and would want to play or just see what I was up to. I took videos on my iPod of you dancing, singing, or just talking in your cute, squeaky little voice. I wish I still had them. One of my favorite pictures of us that I brought here to school with me is us in dress up clothes one day. Sometimes I wish I had had more time to spend doing those fun little kid things with you, like playing dress up, having tea parties, or playing with dolls. You had less of a childhood than I did in that way — Margaret and I are so much older that we were already past those stages by the time you were that age. We were already playing sports, had homework all the time, and had lots of other things going on that you got dragged to. I forget that you’re still a little kid sometimes because most of the time you act much older. You’re wicked smart and have just as much sass as Margaret and me. Still, I still see you as that cute little kid with an adorable laugh, wild blonde curls, and bright blue eyes, wearing my old uniform jumper because you decided you wanted to go to school just like me.

I miss you so much. I hope you know that. Like I said, most of the time I forget you’re still a little kid. Mom told me that the week before I left for school you were sitting with her crying because you didn’t want me to leave. It’s hard for me to be away from you too. People are right when they say we’re like twins — not only do we look alike, but we have very similar personalities. You can tell because we bicker a lot. That doesn’t mean I don’t love you. I miss you having you here to make me laugh at all the random and funny things you say, having you giving me a big hug before you go to bed at night, or doing our dance moves to the chorus of “Teenager In Love” by Dion and The Belmonts with you.

I’m sorry I can’t be there for your birthday. I wish I was there to make you your birthday cake and give you your present. Thankfully there are only two more weeks until I’m back at home for a month for Christmas. Let’s hope we don’t kill each other during that time. I can’t wait to spend time with you.

I love you so much Betsy Boo. I hope you have a great birthday.

Love your big sis,

Emma