Hey Little Sister
Dear April Ann,
Today you turn 18, that magical age when you can stop off at the 7-11 to buy cigarettes, lottery tickets, and porn or, if you prefer, you can drive over to an Indian casino and play video poker. I chose the latter on my 18th birthday, but honestly? Gambling is kind of dull unless it involves large amounts of free alcohol (clearly, I'm not our mother's daughter).
It's been fun watching you grow up and, since I was 10 when you were born, I can more or less remember the whole shebang. You were so tiny and cute and, more importantly, I got to stay home from school all day waiting for your arrival. You didn't get home until well after school would have been let out anyway, so I might as well have gone to class, but I got to sleep in and then spend the day on the couch watching reruns of the Brady Bunch. Your birth will always be firmly implanted in my memory right alongside the time Marcia got Davey Jones to sing at the prom.
At age five, you were constantly in my stuff--in my room, in my clothes, in my drawers--and I'll never forget the time you stuck all my stickers all over every envelope in my stationery box. Seems so trivial now, but then? Hoo-weeeeee, was I ever mad.
You collected rocks--lots of them straight from the yard, all lined up on your dresser--and you also collected roly-poly bugs (also known as Woodlouse). You kept them in a box in your nightstand and fed them leaves. When mom discovered the little habitat, you had a whole family of them. And, by family, I mean a great big Texas compound-sized family.
Alas, the years have passed and now you're all grown up. And I sure do like you. I've loved you with all my heart since the day you were born, of course, but now that you stay out of my stuff and let me borrow your shirts and no longer keep bugs in your nightstand, my love is just bursting at the seams. Yep, you turned out alright.
You brought this poem home from elementary school one day for me. It is written in pencil and each line is numbered in the margin, presumably to remind you which lines to rhyme. I've kept it all these year in a file folder and your 18th birthday seems like the perfect time to publish it right here on the Internet.
Poem FridayWishing you tons of non-tarty pinke panthers and much, much more. Happy birthday, baby sister!I made a party just for you
I bought a cow that says I love you
and it is true
I hope you love me tobirthdays are very fun
we will have a party
we will invite pinke panthers they will bring a ton
hope they won't be tartyI really want them to go to your party
I planned it out so well
Ya they aren't tarty
I promised mom I would not tellI have letters to send
so that is the end
You both have ridiculously good hair.
Also, you have GORGEOUS teeth!
Posted by: Janssen | April 30, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Happy Birthday, April Ann!
This is incredibly sweet, Janet. I love the photos.
Posted by: Nicole | April 30, 2008 at 11:36 AM
This was so sweet! I hope your sister has a great birthday!
Posted by: Amber | April 30, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Wow, to be 18 again!!!
malia
Posted by: Malia | April 30, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Awww, this makes me wish I'd had a baby sister.
Happy Birthday, April Ann!
Posted by: Alison | April 30, 2008 at 02:01 PM
This is too sweet! My sister is 9 years older than I am and this totally reminds me of our relationship (I think I stole her stickers AND stamps!).
Happy birthday to your little sister!
Posted by: Kate | April 30, 2008 at 04:18 PM
What a great poem. I'll have to torture April with it tomorrow when I see her! When she's fully 18! I see her spelling hasn't gotten much better! ;-) pinke? I wish I had a big sister like you!
Posted by: Michele | April 30, 2008 at 04:40 PM
What a beautiful birthday post to your little sis!
I can definitely appreciate how you and April have grown up and then grown together, because I, too, am a big sister by 10 years. Isn't being a big sis fabulous (Especially when you're the one who remembers the roly-poly stories)? ; )
Happy (late) Birthday to April!
Posted by: Leanne | May 01, 2008 at 09:17 AM
Awww...little sisters are the best! Happy 18th April Ann!
Posted by: Erica | May 01, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Happy Birthday April Ann! You and your sister are both lovely and I sooo want that hair!
Posted by: Jan | May 01, 2008 at 10:20 AM
HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY APRIL!
Posted by: kathryn | May 01, 2008 at 02:35 PM
Cherish each moment together. I was the oldest child of my family.Then five brothers and then my baby sister who was born just a few days after my 12th birthday. She would tell me Dad and Mom got perfection with their first child and didn't get perfection again until the seventh. She would tell me "no matter how much weight I gain you will always be the "big" sister" My little sister is gone to Heaven now. She died at age 41 of breast cancer. As I said "cherish your time together"
Posted by: Grammysammy | May 02, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Since I know Janet and have gotten to know April this year, all I have to say is both of you are great!! And Michele is right, April's spelling hasn't gotten much better. :) Happy (late) birthday April!!
Posted by: Cindy | May 04, 2008 at 08:38 AM
Happy birthday April Ann!
What a beautiful post!
Posted by: Jp | May 04, 2008 at 06:05 PM
i'm sitting here at the office, bored, and i loved reading this letter to your sister! It makes me wish i had an older sister and not just an older brother. Yall seem to have a unique relationship and it shows through this letter. I hope she has a wonderful 18th b-day
Posted by: Diana | May 05, 2008 at 01:48 PM
I love that poem--too cute! You & your sister are both adorable.
Posted by: Lesli | May 08, 2008 at 02:27 PM
hi
Posted by: touch of red | May 13, 2008 at 02:02 PM