I know, it sounds like one of those cheesy articles you find on Facebook that gets all gushy and sentimental and gives you a list of things that only someone with a sister could understand and tries to make you feel all the emotional feels.
That’s exactly what this is. And I bet you’re gonna read it anyway.
Yes, I’m writing A Tribute to Sisterhood–or you could even say, A Tribute to My Sister. Ya know why? Because she’s moving. To ANOTHER STATE. So this just feels fitting. Plus, I love her. She’s the only sister I’ve got. She makes me happy (usually). She means a lot to me. Our sisterhood, like most, involves a lot of feelings. So I probably would have written something like this eventually anyway. Now I just have a really good excuse.
So, here it is–twelve amazingly fantastic, superb, wonderful things about having a sister.
1. Put simply, you never don’t have a friend. I know, horrible grammar. It bugs me, too. Anyway, going through all the fantastic wonders of what it is to grow up as a female human being would have been far more difficult for me without another female human being by my side to be my BFF when I didn’t have one. Granted, there were also times when she would be my mortal enemy because she stole my favorite pair of shoes or something. But that never lasted more than a day.
2. You’ve got someone who will fight for you. This might be a bit more relevant for those with older sisters, but I think it’s still relevant to those with younger ones, too. I mean, I may be younger, but I’d kick butt for my big sister if the situation called for it. And even though she’s one of the kindest, most patient, and nicest people I know–I know she’d do the same for me. In my mind, this kind of “Fight for you” comes 4th on the list, after Parents for Children, Spouse for Spouse, and Big Brother for Little Sister (let’s face it, whereas my sister might take a second to take action, my big bro wouldn’t even hesitate).
But I think the biggest fight my sister would put up for me (and has put up for me) more than anyone else would be when it comes to getting me to believe in myself and have the courage to do bigger and greater things. When it comes to my dreams, she always fights for me–even when that means she’s fighting the part of me that doubts I can do it.
3. You’ve got someone to borrow clothes from. Enough said. And probably one of the most damaged qualities of sisterhood resulting from her moving away.
4. You’ve got someone who isn’t weirded out by you. At least, not permanently. I guess a more accurate wording for this would be someone who’s used to your weirdness. Does she make fun of you for it? Absolutely. But does she love you any less? Absolutely not. She might even secretly love you more for it.
5. You’ve got someone who you KNOW you can survive living with. You’ve done it for twenty years (more or less). You did it when you were tweens. And you didn’t kill each other. Now that’s a successful roomie situation, trust me. If the day ever comes that you’re both in the same general area and are each looking for a roommate…you don’t even need to search. You’ve got the perfect one.
6. You’ve got someone you can be angry at. It sounds awful, but it’s true. I don’t think the number even exists for how many times I’ve been angry with my sister or she’s been angry with me. But that’s just part of sisterhood. It happens. And ya know what? We love each other anyway. We always have, and we always will. No matter what. No stupid argument or fit of anger can change that. And we both know this. While apologies are nice, they aren’t usually necessary. Most of the time, they’re implied–by the giving of chocolate, allowance of clothing borrowing, or other nicer and less superficial gestures.
7. You’ve got someone to text or talk to when you’ve got something juicy to tell someone. One of your mutual friends is now dating another one of your mutual friends? A guy said what to you? Mom/Dad did what? You found where the Christmas presents are hidden?! Juicy stuff.
8. You’ve got someone to be absolutely miserable with for a few days once a month. Ladies, you know. You spend that much time around another female, and biology decides to save time and attack you both at once. Kill two birds with one stone, ya know?
9. You’ve got someone to cry in front of. It’s still kind of embarrassing, but not really. Sometimes, she’ll make fun of you. Sometimes, she’ll comfort you. Sometimes, she’ll even start crying along with you. But she’ll never just leave you alone to drown in your own tears.
10. You’ve got someone to watch a movie on Netflix at 1:30am with you after you’ve both worked an eight-hour evening shift until midnight. Well, we’ve done that, at least.
11. You’ve got someone to keep secrets from your parents with. Hey, all siblings do it.
12. You’ve got someone who has known you your entire life (or most of it), and who just might be the person who knows you best. Someone who you’ll share a million memories with. Someone you’ll always see, or at least call, on Christmas. Someone who, even if they’re hundreds of miles away, will still be just as close to your heart.
Someone who is so important to you that without them, the world would be a darker place. Someone you will never stop loving and who will never stop loving you.
A Sister. ❤
Brianna Lee Kauffman 