Happy Birthday Katelyn

Katelyn's actual birthday was earlier this month, but to me, March will always bring two things to mind: spring and Katelyn, so if I think monthly, I'm not too far behind the game. I just wanted to record some of my thoughts about my sister so when I look back I have a picture of just what I thought of her in 2007. Denten helped me, bonus points if you can tell his descriptors from mine.

Katelyn is...
- a free spirit
- a fairly-worn pair of running shoes
- intelligent
- spring time
- cultured
- adventurous
- a chipper soul
- smooth water
- middle-east savvy
- carefully spoken
- fresh veggies
- a Nike Club Tee
- a thoughtful, unexpected surprise in the mail
- open-minded
- a larger-than-life barbie house with a pink corvette
- a minority advocate
- blistered feet
- fresh powder and guts
- a spontaneous song
- an unintentional motivator
- health-conscious
- tough, the girl can weather a storm
- gerber daisies
- a great sweater
- patient
- not confrontational
- all four seasons
- sear-sucker
- quietly disciplined
- an old-fashioned cruiser bike with a basket and a bell
- an enormous, endearing chocolate lab
- Jerusalem
- an early morning cheerleading flashback on the back of the boat
- polka-dots
- a thought- and discussion-provoking book
- shoes
- kind
- crampons and ice axe
- a fluffy bathrobe





Katelyn is my younger sister, but for as long as I can remember, I've looked up to her. For a short time growing up, she was everything I wasn't... decisive, brave, fashion-forward, blond, always aware of just what she wanted. I remember battles over practicing the piano, playing school in our unfinished basement, getting in trouble for calling Lindsay chubby, converse high-tops, the infamous fluffy dress and ringlets, and our nightly routine of NMLF... the shortened version of "good Night, see you in the Morning, i Love you, will you Forgive me for whatever I did today..." Once we moved and had our own rooms, there were many nights we woke up and one had migrated to the other's room. It was great to talk about having our own space, but when bedtime came, I missed her terribly. There was one night however, in the duplex when we shared a room where Katelyn snuck out of her bed over to mine, pinched me really hard and then ran back to bed and pretended she was asleep. When mom came in to see why I was screaming, there was sweet innocent Katelyn faking slumber in her bed. Clever. Katelyn is definitely clever.

I hurt for her loneliness in DC and she returned the favor when I moved to NY. I watched her make much better decisions than I did regarding guys she dated...Dave C., Justin P., Bri-bri and finally Wadey. I love Wade almost as much as I love Katelyn and they compliment each other very well. I have complete admiration for the way the two of them have supported each other and maintained a close and open relationship through the loss of a dear brother. While I have learned to be happy with who I am, I will always want to be a little like Katelyn. She is a wonderful sister, friend and aunt. I love her today.