today is my youngest sister's birthday, and we're celebrating on a family trip in d.c. we took the metro into the city and spent our afternoon at the smithsonian, the natural history museum and national gallery in particular. we finished it up with dinner (with a candle in a slice of cheesecake) and a walk to the harbor right before sunset. not a bad way to spend the day!
i can't believe my sister is 22. it felt like only yesterday she was 4 years old and i was on summer break, waking her up every morning to pick out a dress for her to wear. after that i'd curl her hair in my mother's bathroom, while she sat quietly and patiently for something that took me about a half hour to do. then i'd take her to the park for a walk. this is how we spent our mornings every morning. she was like my doll, and i loved to take care of her.
i was young then, but i always felt an inherent need to watch after her. in middle school, i threw her a carnival birthday party for her and her friends; in high school, i jumped in to stick up for her when she was teased; in college, i brought her everywhere with me on weekends; when i started working, i drove home every tuesday night to take her out to dinner. since i've moved into my house, i invite her over to stay for a few days every year. as she's grown older i see so much of myself in her, but have realized that she has been the one to mold me as well. though i'm 8 years her senior, she has been my listening ear, my sounding board; it is no wonder that she will be a teacher one day, because she has taught me so much.
happy birthday to my sister, who has always understood my heart.
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