February 28, 2003
Everyone should have a big sister like mine
Everyone should have a big sister like mine, if they could. If not, a really good life-long friend will probably work out all right as well. Just find somebody with a different perspective than yours, and I think you'll learn a little about it what it means to be human and filled with compassion, humor, and love of life, as I have and continue to from her. These things, I think we all too often take for granted.
I was lucky enough to get to know my Big Sister beyond the silly adolescence and childhood scramblings and vying for attention from Mom, Dad, other family and friends. She landed back home several months following her College Graduation. I had taken up fort there, in our childhood home, after Mom headed for the East coast to live with her special someone else.
Mom was generous enough to set us up with cheap rent (usually no rent), which immensely helped me along in conquering the strife's of American adolescence and challenges of higher Ed, without having to subsist merely on the jobs I slaved at through the years of school.
Some years ago, today... perhaps, as fine a morning as it is here in JP, I?ll bet not as cold, she was brought into the light of day. Unbeknownst to her, years of angst and hell and torment called little brother were soon to follow. I think she got a tip off about the troubles. It seems she must have begun preparation for all the fine moments of torment and trickery she would fell on me over the years that followed. All of which were bested by her sheer good nature and maturity, years after that, when for some reason she chose to live with me, rather than some place on her own where she could be free of direct family interference.
Somehow these things didn't frighten her too much and she came back. And we both got to know each other and grow up a little bit more, together, as brother and sister, friend and family. I think that all too often families grow apart, and fail to really get to know one another before they do. We didn't, and while we don't talk every week, we do talk at least every month, and it's always good to hear her voice.
Well, after about 4 years of living together, minus a semester apart when I lived in Austin, with pipe dreams of becoming an Engineer, I moved away up here to the East Coast. Not too far from Mom and Mike, her wonderful special someone else that we have all grown to love as part of our family as well.
Since, today's her birthday and I recently started this web log (blog) I figured I'd send this to all my friends and family, so, they could think some good thoughts about their families and friends for a few moments and so that Jen's birthday, for a few moments, could bring everybody together. Please feel free to wish her a happy birthday here. Or e-mail this to your friends and family using the "email this entry to..." option.
Many of you may have never met Jen, nor perhaps will you. But for those of you, who do know her, write something special here about her. I know some of you have sent e-cards and real cards and such, but take a minute and make a comment here. I'd like to know I'm not the only one out there that loves his big sister (besides the fam of course). For those of you who don't know her, here's a quick biased bio.
After graduating Texas A&M in 1993 she moved to SA to work for a renown Orthopedic surgeon who invented the Titanium Rib and she organized his Titanium rib project and his life for a few years. While doing this full-time job, she managed to take more classes at our local university, further preparing her for applying to Medical School.
In between the job, studying, being a big sister, and applying for med school, she managed to stay really active in all types of dangerous (as Mom says) sports. And, she managed to frequently visit our then ailing and wonderful Grandmothers. They both have passed and my sister gave the best damn eulogy for one of the toughest, kindest ladies of our time, my Grandma Johnson as we called her.
A few months ago, she scared the shit out of us all, when she happened upon an invisible cliff, while riding in a mountain bike race. She broke her back and fractured a rib (or two) and managed to get back to school within a few weeks. She's the toughest and most generous people I know and am proud and humbled to have her as my big sister.
Even though she's facing more surgery (she's had other accidents in the past) she's still in school, and ever the optimist about life and its possibilities. Jen, if everybody could live life as you have, they would have lived many lives. Happy Birthday!! wherever you are, my dear sister. I know you are probably working a rotation today and saving someone's life, and I hope everybody gets an opportunity to share with you their thoughts on your impact in their life.
