A Cup of Happiness: Sisterhood.

I have so much to write about. I still have to tell you about my trip to Seattle and Newport, RI. My next entry will be about the fun adventures from last week but there is something more important to write about today. I want to tell you about my sister, Kate, she was born on the 28^th of July.

Kate – just Kate, not Kathryn, not Kaitlin, don’t even think about calling her Katie or you might end up with a black eye – her name is short, simple, yet unique. She is one of two of my big sisters and there is nothing in the world like the love and bond of sisterhood. One is not better than the other and I do not love one more than I love the other. We fight, we laugh, we cry, and we are there for one another when we need someone to lean on (of course we have the occasional slap or punch but that’s not important). My sisters’ will tell me the truth, even if it hurts and vice versa and they are the first to celebrate the joys in life.

As long as I can remember, I have always looked up to my big sister, Kate. She is the closest in age to me being three years apart. I want to share some of my fondest memories about her since today is her day.

When we were little, my mom would dress us in matching outfits – poor Kate, at least I was too young to remember – which consisted of disgusting floral patterns (sorry mom).

Kate taught, okay she actually forced me into doing a back handspring at the age of 3. It is probably because of her I became a gymnast.

We took dance classes and gymnastics together.

When I was very young, I had to get a tetanus shot because Kate told me to pick up a turtle, but it was actually a mole and it bit my finger. (Either I was really dumb or Kate was really mean - or both)

We shared a room until I was 13, with a sheet down the middle and my side always seemed to get smaller and smaller.

We had a hot pink record player with our one and only record Simon & Garfunkel, we played “Cecilia” over and over and over. To this day, I think of Kate when I hear that song.

My mom and Kate surprised me by painting my new bedroom the colors of Crayola (bright orange, yellow, pink and lime green).

I would watch her field hockey and basketball games in awe, hoping someday I would be a good player like she was.

I could never try to scare Kate because if you did, her first instinct is to come out swinging. I have been decked quite a few times, and trust me it knocks the wind out of you.

We used to hit and run… or at least I would get a punch in and run as fast as I could to the nearest room with a lock.

We would wear zebra and leopard pants, we thought they were so stylish.

Whenever we drove in the car together we would blast the radio or CD and sing at the top of our lungs.

We took our first long flight to Hawaii together and Kate hates traveling with me ever since. We have traveled to Hawaii, California, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, St. Thomas and most recently Seattle, Washington.

I hysterically cried (seriously, I sobbed to the point of not being able to breathe) when she left for college. The thought of not having her in the house with me anymore scared me.

Kate picked me up the first time I got really drunk at a high school party – I later threw up. Sorry Kate for that obnoxious car ride home.

After a long week of field hockey camp when Kate was in college, she had to drive home because her roommate got me too drunk to drive. What a good sister! Ha

When I was upset and hated my first college, Kate and Travis came and took me shopping and to dinner.

When I transferred to Marist, Kate and Travis moved me into my new room in a blizzard; they also moved me out at the end of the year. This was the start of me calling them mom and dad.

Kate and Travis helped me celebrate my 21^st birthday. It was by far the best birthday because of them. They gave me my first digital camera (that I accidentally dropped and I will never live it down).

They came back to celebrate my 22^nd with an 80s themed party – hilarious.

After college, Kate, Travis and I lived at my parents’ house. We used to snuggle and watch TV in their gigantic bed, with me in the middle of course. Kate would eventually yell at me and tell me to leave.

As Kate’s maid of honor in her wedding – with my sister Kelley, who refused to give a speech – I almost threw up having to give a speech in front of two hundred people.

Kate won tickets to Britney Spears Circus tour on the radio and took me with her because I was the first person to answer the phone.

Kate gave birth to my niece, Paige, almost two years ago and at that moment I had never been so proud of her.

Kate got me a job with the company she works for, we see each other almost every day.

Above were only the highlights of our twenty-five years together. We have so many good memories and some bad of course but she has always been there and is a huge part of my life. Almost every memory I have growing up includes Kate. She has been a best friend and an incredibly loving and generous sister. Happy 29^th Birthday Kate! I love you so much.