Sister Pister...I Feel Old

Sister Pister started school today.  Her first day of her junior year of high school.  I feel old.  I remember when she was born.  I was ten.  She had this head of curly black hair and the chubbiest cheeks ever.   

And, I was beyond thrilled to have a baby sister.  I'd always dreamed of having a little sister and I could not believe it had finally come true.  Sister Pister was a hilarious toddler; she was used to mingling among Brother and I and our friends so she acted more like a middle schooler than a three year old.  Complete with bouts of swearing like holding a snake by the front door when she was three and saying, "Mom, let's go scare the he** out of Amy!"  She knew I despised snakes and wanted to show me up because she was not afraid. 

She also has always had a strong sense of who she is and has always been willing to blaze her own trail.  I admire her self confidence and it has always been a wonder to me how she achieved that elusive "knowing who are" at such a young age. 

Her and I are extremely different people.  I'm a planner.  She's a fly by the seat of her pants kind of gal.  I'm a neat freak.  She is cluttered.  I'm a worrier.  She knows things will all work out.  I'm high strung {that might be an understatement}.  She is calm, cool, and collected.  I stick my foot in my mouth on a regular basis.  She thinks before she speaks.  

But, even with all of those differences, we are still close.  Sure, she might drive me crazy with her constant use of "Amy, seriously, just calm down...it will be fine."  But, I still love her. 

Because there are some commonalities between us too.  We are both stubborn, hard working, like to laugh, and even more than that, like to make others laugh. 

I guess that's the thing about sisters.  Even though we can fight with the best of them, at the end of the day, I know she will always have my back and I will always have hers.  There's no one else I'd rather call sister.   

So, she started her junior year of high school today.  We have always joked that I would be an old lady when she graduated high school...a whopping 30.  Back then, it seemed like she would always be the little one and the day would never come when we were both adults. 

But, it's creeping up fast.  Real fast.  I guess I better exercise all of the "I'm older and wiser and know better" power over her while I can.  Even though this look she is giving her horse because he wouldn't cooperate, is the exact look I receive when I try to give her advice.  

   

My only hope is that she will relish every moment of the last two years of her childhood and live it to the fullest.  Who am I kidding?  Of course she will.  It's what she has always done.  Gone full speed ahead.