Sister Dear I love you so

Today I have a good reason to end my months long blogging hiatus, a hiatus for which I have no good excuse. Today, you see, is my sister's birthday. Though I have no memory of her birth, Bice legend tells a tale of yours truly (at about age 2) taking Molly from her crib (really? is that possible?), lovingly carrying her to the bathroom in hopes of bathing her, and promptly dropping her on the tiled bathroom floor. After the telling of this legend it is impossible not to say "and that is why Molly is the way she is." So, I guess I can take credit for Molly's personality. Maybe it was that bump on the head that made her so funny, so open with all the details of her life (in a good way, but watch out for the in-depth recitation of what she ate and how it made it her feel), so caring, so beautiful, so talented!, so sweet, so fantastic. Every time we get together, and I mean EVERY time, something will be said, something that is usually not funny to anyone else, that will make us laugh so hard that anyone observing us will just stop and stare at us in a confused stupor. We can't just stop with a hearty chuckle. We do the soundless laugh that dissolves into tears and near hysteria. As soon as we think it has subsided we will look at each other and it will start again, this time even more intense until our stomach muscles reach exhaustion and we slowly (this could go on for almost 10 minutes) wind down. And I can't do that with anyone else. No one else can make me laugh that way. No one understands me like she does. And though I know I try to mother her more than I should, she always listens and tells me how great I am and how much she loves me. But I don't think she can know that she has the strength and the wisdom that I long to have. She amazes me and I love her. I am so happy she was born on this day 31 years ago. Now that both of us are mothers I think we realize how important a birthday is. Not the presents or the cake, but the remembering. Mothers remembering the birth experience, fathers remembering that feeling of holding his child for the first time, siblings remembering long-ago moments of play (remember when you use to sneak into my bedroom and night so we could read and play together?), and friends remembering how their lives are different because of this person's birth. I can say with assurance that so many people are remembering you today, Molly. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope the sun in Cancun is warming your body and reminding you of the love that SO many have for you, both on earth and in heaven.