twins (for a month)

This is my sister, Melissa, and me, circa 1988:

I freaking love this picture. That's our grandma on the right, and I think this must have been taken at our favorite great aunt's house (our aunt Carmen, a.k.a. Tia Mini, so nicknamed because she's teeny tiny). I love that my sister and I are wearing matching enormous bows, no doubt handmade by our momma, and I love how Mel is holding her knife, ready to spear her hot dog, and how I'm trying to wipe my mouth but someone is holding my hand back. I like that it's not posed - just us, eating dinner, little kids, always together, sisters in childhood. I took a picture of this picture, which resides on my sister and Alex's fridge in Austin, when Kevin and I were in town for their wedding in October. I like to think of this picture where it lives, on the fridge, in Mel and Alex's home.

Mel turned 26 on Tuesday. I'm two days late wishing her a happy happy birthday on this blog, but I think she knows that the love is just as strong today. Every year, from November 10th (Mel's birthday) until December 6th (my birthday), Mel and I get to live as twins (don't get a headache trying to figure it out, we were born only eleven months apart!). We used to get such a kick out of confounding our friends by saying, "We're sisters, we're not twins, but we're the same age," then we'd laugh like maniacs when all the other kids said, "That's impossible!" Hilarious we were.

Here is how I feel about my sister:

And here is just one of the many many reasons why I, and so many others (including the handsome guy in the video, my new brother-in-law, Alex), love her so stinking much:

Happy 26th to my lovely sister - my temporary twin. I love you, Mel.

P.S. - I can't turn the video so that it isn't sideways - urgh! Working on it. For now, enjoy it from a different perspective.