My Little Sister is Turning 40

Wow. Very hard to believe that you are turing 40. I think back to the times that I spent horrifying you and it doesn't seem that long ago. Remember when mom brought home the oreos that you wanted? I opened the bag and licked all of them before you could get to them. From those days came the days when you were taller than me and forced me to stand on my toes in family pictures. You could have really tormented me then but you didn't...thanks. Then there were the high school years when we ended up at a few of the same parties and found that we actually cared about each other and really looked after each other. I think we both enjoyed the emotional support during those social pressure cookers. That continued through college as well, when we hung out together at Brown where you were loved like a sister by my friends who you always made laugh. We also worked through some tough times together, which rarely make the highlight reels but are the source of real relationships. I will take some credit for steering you away from a few of old boy friends so that you ended up with Mike. That's what big brothers are for. You also get full credit for spotting my future wife and in your own way, making sure she liked me (or at least thought I might be better than the inital impression might suggest) before I was able to do so. Where would I be without that help...only God knows.



I think our best years together, however, have been the last 15. You have grown into an incredible Mother, wife, daughter, sister-in-law, aunt, friend and big sister. You bring your positive attitude and energy into every interaction. What makes you so special, however, is that you bring it with a genuine sense of honesty and decency which inspires trust. No matter who it is.... students, colleagues, nieces, nephews , your kids, me, your siblings, your inlaws, your outlaws, your parents, etc.....everyone knows who you are and that you are a genuine person who cares about them. When people trust you, you can lead them and make an impact on their lives. You have done this with many, many people and you should be very proud of yourself for the impact that you have had. Thanks for all you do for me, my kids and my family. Don't go changing, you got a lot of living and impacting yet to do. happy 40th, Love Bernie