march forth

Today is March 4th. As my mother says, "It is the only day of the year that gives a command: March Forth."  Today is also my sister Beth's birthday.



Because I'm still in disbelief that it is already March (uh, what happened to February?) I neglected to get my sister a card.  So I thought I'd take a quick moment and capture, here, what I doubt anything from Hallmark could appropriately convey.

Beth is 10 years older than me and is one of the most important figures in my world. Whenever people tell me how hard I work - or how generous I am - I always think of Beth. So much of who I am and what I am is because of the influence from my big sister.  In my almost 42 years, I've never met anyone that works harder.  Nor have I met anyone who would give you (for keeps), the couch from their living room, the table from their dining room, or the car from their garage. I know of no one who would without question or hesitation, open their doors to you - your friends - or your family.

Like my sister, Beth. 

My sister is both an inspiration and an exhaustion because I could never keep up with her energy and generosity, although I've certainly tried. She is a chemist and a pharmacist and an attorney. Although she was in her 20's and just starting out, when she won a jackpot from a local radio station my freshman year in college, she donated every penny to my textbook fund.  She also enrolled me in the Pepperidge Farm monthly gift club which allowed me to become one of the most popular girls in my dorm.

(Cookies at 2AM anyone?) 

(How about 40 pounds of Goldfish?)

Beth is extremely loyal and has taken in several members of our family, sometimes for months on end, who were in dire straights. When I was flunking out of math in high school and was at risk for slipping two years behind in my curriculum, Beth enrolled me in summer school and would work with me - every single night - on homework. In the end, I mastered algebra and landed one of the highest grades in my summer school class.   I credit my sister with teaching me that in the world of academia, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to and even a few things you might never thought possible.

And while the past few years of caring for my father (and trying to cooperatively interface with a family that can be a tad bit challenging at times) have been draining,  Beth has remained strong. What I most admire about my sister, is that she genuinely cares. Despite the circumstances - or familial history - she tries to be helpful and do the right thing for those whom she loves.  And for as long as I've known her, she's never been nothing but wonderful to me.

Happy Birthday, MCLB.  March forth in your awesomeness.  I love you more than frozen Reese's miniature peanut butter cups and Bruce Willis movies, combined.