Happy Birthday, Shelby!

February 28th, 2013

On this day, 28 years ago, the world gained a feisty, fun, fabulous person. Happy birthday, Shelby! You should receive the Best Big Sister of a Lifetime award. If no such award exists, it does now and I'm naming it after you. :) You were my loyal defender and protector when we were growing up, and your offers of, "Do you need your big sister to come take care of the situation?" are still very much appreciated, even in adulthood. Never mind the fact that I am now six inches taller than you; if a situation arose, I would still hide behind you and say, "Yeah! What she said!", as if we were seven and ten years old facing down a bully. You know the greatest part of being the youngest? I have never had to spend one day on this earth without you, whether it be in person, a phone call, an e-mail, or a snail mail letter. We have each other's backs, laugh until we cannot breathe, get snippy and sarcastic when we think the other one is not driving correctly ("Shelby, use the blinker!"--"Holly, if you say that one more time, I'm getting out of this car!"), and have experienced the carefree days of childhood, the awkward in-between years, the excitement of college life, and the ups and downs of young adulthood together. Here's to many more years of sister adventures!

In honor of your birthday, the following is a list of 28 memories, things I love about you, and items that have defined our relationship throughout the years.

1) Fierce determination

2) Loyalty

3) Out of this world work ethic; seriously, you have the energy of an otter!

4) The time you tripped on a tree root at Okefenokee Swamp and let out a blood-curdling scream because you thought an alligator had attacked. 

5) Your lifelong love of horses and all things equestrian.

6) Dressing up and hosting tea parties with Jenny--"Can you believe the outrageous things Charlie Tinsley said?", spoken in our best, southern-influenced, British accents. :)

7) Shouting "Charge!" when walking up a flight of stairs--anytime, anywhere.

8) Your kindness--I still remember the time I dropped my candy apple at the mall. As tears of disappointment spilled down my five-year old face, you quickly offered me yours. 

9) Our 3,000 mile road trip--bison, a popcorn ball the size of a small planet, mule deer stalking at midnight, the Beach Boys, and dill pickles. We made a lifetime's worth of memories in just two weeks!

10) Riding bicycles together, and nursing you back to health when you wiped out at the bottom of the hill and ate gravel.

11) Your ability as a seamstress--You are the only person I know who can draw a pattern on a sheet of notebook paper and make a beautiful dress out of the leftover fabric from a set of curtains. It's like you are Maria from The Sound of Music or Scarlet from Gone with the Wind! :)

12) Three Musketeers candy bars

13) That summer day of the epic watermelon fight in the front yard.

14) Shakespeare--I think it is cool that you are a fan of his! I'm always in awe when you can explain the plots and characters. I have come to the conclusion that my Shakespearean comprehension ability did not improve with the onset of adulthood.

15) Parachuting Barbies from the barn loft; forget the usual shopping, beach, and babysitting Barbies. Ours were helicopter pilots, paratroopers, orphanage workers, and pioneers.

16) The Snoopy dance--"To live is to dance, to dance is to live."

17) The Oregon Trail computer game--"I want to get to Oregon, sho'nuff. But all in one piece!"

18) Piano and violin duets

19) The summers I spent trying to teach you to swim and float. I think we both gave up somewhere around 2001. Just make sure you always have a life jacket or me with you when you are in deep water.

20) Our mutual love of musicals; "Oooooooooooklahoma!"

21) Creativity--refinishing old furniture, painting, building, knitting; your creativity and imagination are inspiring.

22) The loft plays, especially 'Cyrano'--"I fell from the moon!"

23) Our conversations comprised entirely of movie quotes. "Others? You mean, others? More than one others?"--Name that movie. :)

24) That time the snowstorm struck at Christmas and we went without power for three days. You knew the temperature had plunged to sub-zero inside and times were desperate when we agreed to camp out together in my room! I'll never forget the image of you rolled up in a sleeping bag like a burrito and me in the air force flight suit. If I remember correctly, you smacked me in the face during the night in your sleep and I kicked you in the ribs. I'm just thankful we had separate rooms as children. :)

25) The doll you made and gave me for Christmas--to a little girl who dreamed of owning an American Girl doll but knew it was too expensive, that doll was the best gift. To this day, it is my most cherished Christmas present.

26) Your habit of cracking up at my lack of coordination. Jumping off a school desk in an attempt to fly and smashing my face into the floor, tripping over wet floor signs, falling out of the back of the truck; as the saying goes, "We are sisters. Always remember that if you fall, I will help you up, but only after I've stopped laughing." :)

27) Having each other to trust completely with our feelings, opinions, dreams, grief, happiness, insecurities, ideas, and plans. We don't always agree, but we seek to understand. You listen, offer advice and encouragement, and tell me to grow up and quit complaining when I am being ridiculous.

28) Our tradition of, "I love you more than...".

I hope you have an absolutely marvelous day filled with laughter, friends, and cake from that amazing European bakery!

I love you more than a newt loves lounging on a cool river rock on a hot day!