Dear Sister,

I'm sorry I got your jacket dirty when I wore it last week. I'm also sorry I neglected to ask for your permission to wear it in the first place. It's just that you've been so kind to me and sometimes I become unappreciative and forgetful. The truth is, I've yet to completely grow up, so I sometimes forget to be considerate.

I often think about this and realize the real shame in it. You see, you're my sister. You've never been obligated to be anything more than that. Sometimes sisters become best friends; but to be honest, I've always noticed we never quite reached the level of "best friends forever". For a bit of time, this bothered me. Why could everyone else be best friends with their sister, while mine was always nagging me to take out the bathroom garbage?

Fortunately, I finally figured it out. We could never be the closest of sisters because you were busy spending your efforts being my mom. For this, I have taken advantage of you. I failed to realize that you have done more than I could've ever asked for from a sister. You would grocery shop.

This lead to a multitude of things I have to be grateful for. The pantry would be fully stocked with the healthy version of all of my favorite snacks. Of course, I resented the healthy part at first, but you cared about me eating right. You used your coupons to get me more shampoo, even the expensive kind I constantly bugged you to get. You even found a shirt on sale that you thought I'd like, so you bought it to surprise me.

You took me to get frozen yogurt after I had a bad day. I didn't even have to ask most times. Then we would sit down and talk about what was bothering me or why I had a bad day. Even though they started out badly, I appreciate those days.

You always picked me up from practice… and stopped at McDonalds on our way home because I was going to starve to death if we didn't.

You took me driving so I could get my license. I had to bug you most times, especially when I first got my permit. You were scared of death by my amateur driving, and you were not afraid to say it. Fortunately, I am quite persuasive, and by persuasive I mean annoying enough to ask you until you said yes.

You were my biggest fan at all of my recitals and competitions. Your goal was always to support me. Even when you weren't able to be in the crowds, you still somehow found a way to be my #1 fan.

The most important thing that you've done for me has been you just simply giving me your presence and love in a way that most sisters have not learned how to do. I could write a hundred more things that I have to be thankful for you, but only one really matters the most. Thank you for loving me like a mother should love her daughter.