I wrote this for my sister and I gave it to her. I wrote it, but it is not mine. I hope you enjoy it.
April 12th, the 102nd day of the year.
On this day in history, 1776 the North Carolina Congress authorized it's delegates to vote for Independence from Britain. 1861 the first shots are fired to start the Civil War. 1945 Franklin D Roosevelt dies and Harry Truman is sworn in as president. 1961 The first manned flight into outer space by Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. 1981 the Space Shuttle is launched for the first time (Columbia). 1999 Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving intentionally false statements about, well you know what he was lying about. Tiny Tim was born on this day in 1932, David Letterman, Tom Clancy, Ed O'Neill, David Cassidy, Vince Gill, Mellow Man Ace (Cypress Hill), and Shannen Doherty were all born on this day. It is National Grilled Sandwich Day and Halifax Day (if you live in North Carolina).
April 12th, the 102nd day of the year.
On this day in history, 1776 the North Carolina Congress authorized it's delegates to vote for Independence from Britain. 1861 the first shots are fired to start the Civil War. 1945 Franklin D Roosevelt dies and Harry Truman is sworn in as president. 1961 The first manned flight into outer space by Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. 1981 the Space Shuttle is launched for the first time (Columbia). 1999 Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving intentionally false statements about, well you know what he was lying about. Tiny Tim was born on this day in 1932, David Letterman, Tom Clancy, Ed O'Neill, David Cassidy, Vince Gill, Mellow Man Ace (Cypress Hill), and Shannen Doherty were all born on this day. It is National Grilled Sandwich Day and Halifax Day (if you live in North Carolina).
More importantly it is the birthday of my sister and my grandfather. Until this day in 19(date redacted for national security) I was the center of the universe, my parents only child, my grandparents only grandchild. I could do no wrong, then she happened. Here she came all cute and female and I was no longer the favorite. I was never the favorite again, she was followed by several more cousins who were equally adorable, I was cooked. She was OK tho, she smelled weird sometimes, and I never got to sit in Moms lap but I wasn't ever put in baby lockup either. I got used to her, she got older, she got cooler. We lived at the lake and the majority of our neighbors were only there on the weekends. She was my goto friend, she'd play GI Joe and I'd play Barbie, we made it work. Now don't get me wrong we fought, fighting like only siblings can. I have taken quite a few ass whippings I didn't have coming. “Dad! Arlen hit me!” I still get a little nervous even just saying those words out loud. OK I probably had every ass whoopin' I ever got coming to me. It's kind of akin to breaking into a car and getting convicted of murder. She was my number one homie all the same.
We got older she kept getting cooler and I kept getting crazier. I was screaming “Thug Life!” and she was on the dance team. She never gave up on me, I know I embarrassed the shit out of her with some of the stunts I pulled, yet there she still was with her hand out to help me up. She loved me and made sure I knew it (she still does that) she wouldn't ride in my cars tho. “No I'll get a ride,” that Plymouth was awesome I don't care what she says. College was more of the same, I was spiraling out of control and here she was doing all the things that a responsible participating member of society does. She kept me out of jail a few times, doing drunk donuts in the middle of University Dr was a bad idea in hindsight. She stuck with me no matter how crazy I got and that meant more to me than I think she knows.
Fast forward fifteen years, I'm in the middle of an ugly divorce and I was done. Just done with everything. I remember vividly a conversation her and I had one night. The night everything changed. The night I changed. “Get your shit together Arlen!” and if you know my sister, that is just not how she talks to people ever. “You have two kids who are depending on you, pull yourself together and think of them.” I couldn't tell you anything else about that conversation but it was the last one the old Arlen had. Ninety miles away she still found a way to be there exactly when I needed her.
Awesomest Awesomer Ever. To my Baby Sis, I love you. You inspire me to be a better person everyday. I thank you for my sobriety, for my children, my albeit rocky but civil relationship with my ex-wife. Everyone in my life gave up on me at some point, everyone except you. I can never repay you, there is nothing on this round rock that is equal to what you have given me. You are and ever will be my best friend. The greatest gift Mom and Dad ever gave me was you.
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday