day 11

dear aisha,

from first grade on, you have helped me grow into the woman i am today. you have taught me so much about acknowledging privilege, embracing humility, and taking responsibility (just to throw some cbq’s out there). my memories with you are some of the fondest from my childhood and adulthood.

i am grateful…

1. that your mother decided to send you to a boarding school (chicago jr. school – cjs) in elgin, illinois in first grade
2. that my mother allowed you to come home with us basically every weekend
3. that we thought it was a good idea to dump the bathtub water all over the bathroom floor and play slip ’n’ slide on the tile (that dang heating vent did not make a great stopping bumper)
4. for your amazing spelling skills in elementary school
5. that you let me be batman and were okay with being my robin (metaphorically)
6. that your mom decided to take you out of cjs for 4th and 5th grade (not sure if that is accurate), so that i could take my first flight to come visit you in columbus, ohio
7. for every single one of our shopping trips to gabriel’s (although i guess we should always try before we buy from now on…)
8. for the tgi fridays waitstaff that humored us and “believed” that we were actually twins celebrating our birthday together
   
9. for your tough love (we all know i needed it)
10. that we had big dreams of opening a salon where i did hair and you gave massages
11. that you matured faster than me and could give me the low down on boobs and periods and sex
12. for your weirdly optimistic cynicism
13. that you gave birth to the magical creature that is anna lisa
    
14. and that i have been able to watch her grow up into a spitting image of you
    
15. that no matter how long it’s been since i’ve seen you last, we always pick up right where we left off
16. to have been your maid of honor and by your side through everything (even if only in spirit)
17. that you have always been a role model to me, demonstrating strength, fearlessness, and the ability to stand your ground
18. that i can be there for you when shit gets crazy
19. that you are a constant reminder of how grateful i should be for all that this life has provided me
20. for that time you wore all white and pretended to be an angel
    
21. that you work so hard to support your family with all those long nursing hours
22. for your laugh
23. that your mother and grandma have always treated me as an adopted daughter
24. for all the hours you sat watching my endless dance classes (i’m sorry)
25. that you love “death becomes her” as much as i do and forced your daughter to watch it
26. that you were there to remind me to be grateful for my stepfather
27. for your infinite love and understanding of my shortcomings
28. for the time you and your crew took me to shoot my first (and only) gun at the gun range
29. that a trip to west virginia is one of the best things ever for me
30. that fate gave me another sister (a twin even!)