My Sister who moved across country to live in the same state with us almost immediately after we got the news of the cancer reoccurrence. This was a great sacrifice because you left simply to be close to us. You left your job, took a cut in pay but you said you never looked back.  In fact, you did not see it as a sacrifice but rather as the right decision.

Having you closer to us is priceless. David loved you like a Sister. The girls are so fond of you. Each time you come over, they run to you like they have not seen you in ages, even if they saw you the previous day. You are the reason why David cried with joy after our younger daughter was born as he said “I am so happy we have another girl”. With tears streaming down his face, he said “they can be close like you and your Sister, and your Mom and her Sister”.

When we were younger we joked that you always followed me around, now I find myself looking to you for guidance and support. You always have the right things to say or the right approach in different situations. You know me so well, no matter how hard I try to mask my mood, you know when I am happy, sad, or excited. Sometimes, it is like you know me more than I know myself. In fact, David used to call you to reason with me. You knew when I should be ignored or encouraged. I remember the evening before my wedding when I went bridezella over a subtle error on the program at about 2 am and I wanted it corrected, you were the only one that laughed at me until I realized the ridiculousness.

You are always there for me, for us. In the good times you are beaming with me and in the difficult times you have been there to encourage me. You  took the girls to school as David and I ran from appointments to appointments. You took them out to play when we could not.  You were there to listen to me wailing and crying from the torment that cancer brought to our life. After David passed, you never left my side. You took calls for me when you knew I was in no position to talk. You always know when to step in when life gets too overwhelming for me.

Writing this post is making me cry because of the love I have for you and my gratitude to you. We have been close since childhood, we shared a bedroom even though we did not have to. Having you in my life has made the good time even better and the hard times a bit more bearable. This post also made me realize that you and I have very few pictures together.

Below is a picture that David always wanted – “three generations of Sisters” he called it. There is certainly a very powerful Sister bond in this family, one that David and I hope continues with our daughters – who also like sharing the same bedroom and currently they enjoy wearing matching outfits.