Almira is many things; she grew up assuming many roles. From the earliest days, she was Mom’s little helper. After I was born, she became a second mom. I don’t just say this because she actually behaved like one, responsible beyond her years, tenacious and loving, sometimes bossy, but because my mom would leave explicit directions telling me to treat her as my second mom. When I was learning to speak, she became Mia to me, a nickname that still stands today. As we both grew, our six year age difference proved to make things a little more difficult. We developed a routine when she was a teen and myself barely a preteen: bicker until that turned into an argument followed by always making up, never letting a slammed door be the end of a conversation.

Mia is my best friend; we began to grow closer as she grew busier. But no matter how busy she became, with school, with work, with sports, and with doting on another sister, Mia always made time for our sister sleepovers or sister movie nights. Soon enough, she grew busier by adding a boyfriend to the picture--a tall, shaggy-haired, cookie-baking boy named Adam.

Maybe it was because of how tall Adam is, but he was pretty intimidating to a shy 11-year-old. I basically avoided speaking to him at all costs up until a couple of years ago. That’s when he became my brother--whether or not he knew it at the time. Adam has always showed genuine interest in whatever I did or wanted to talk about. Although I didn’t start really talking to him until the latter part of their relationship, he always knew just what to say or do--to Mia, myself, and to everyone else he meets.

I know Mia will always try to take care of me like how she has since I was just a baby, but now I know she will take care of Adam and their future together. She’ll always be many things: my sister, my best friend and role model. Now she’ll also be Adam’s wife. With her passion in everything she does, Adam’s diligence and both of their kind-heartedness, the path ahead of them is endless. So here’s to the health of the happy pair; from their early years and on, may good luck follow them everywhere; and may each day of wedded bliss be always as sweet and joyous as this.

This past weekend, on Saturday, June 25, I was able to watch my best friend/older sister and her fiancé become husband and wife. It was a wedding that matched the two perfectly: relaxed and filled with many, many laughs. Not one person left without having a good time, everyone was simply overjoyed for the two.

I've never met a couple more suited for each other than Adam and Almira; frankly, after meeting Adam and seeing the two of them together, there isn't anyone else who could begin to be "right" enough for Almira. I know that they will do great things together for each other and for everyone they meet.