It’s this girl’s 27th birthday today! My sister Vicky is one of the funniest, most loving, generous, and hardworking people I have ever met. But it’s not just her sense of humor that I love so much. It’s the epic stories she has in her repertoire like “the hydrant” and “the soft serve incident”. No one re-tells them like she does. We laugh. We cry. Occasionally, we snort.
It’s just a fact that wherever Vicky goes, something fabulous is going to happen. And she’s always wrangling my brother Kevin, Skylar and I into adventures — the Walk for Hunger and the Boston marathon are two memorable examples. Just look at her regally reclining in that lawn chair at the garden. Typical Leo fashion. Typical Vicky zest.
But I think what I love most about my sister is that she has the most incredible spirit. From the second you meet her, you know exactly what she must have been like as a child because she has managed to retain that childlike wonder about the universe that we all too commonly lose or bury deep so we can “be adults”. Paired with the effortless mop of dark hair, gorgeous hazel eyes, and long legs, it’s hard not to be a little envious of the incredible package that is my sister.
To my beautiful younger sister who has nearly always been a little taller, I hope you know how much I look up to you — both literally and figuratively. I wish you the happiest of birthdays and I love you very much.
you were the cutest baby ever
you showed me our favorite spot in one of our favorite cities
how much you love zoos
that you did this one time at a little girls’ birthday party
that we discovered this together in the Boboli Garden despite having both studied abroad in Florence
that if there is a dog within 20 feet, you are playing with it
that you dove into “the matador” with your hands at Pio Pio, sopped green sauce, and even broke a sangria glass
that you’re such a great snowboarder, but still hit the bunny slopes with me
the friendship you have with my friends, too
that we love Dave Matthews and all the Dave concerts we’ve been to
your relationship with this little partner in crime here
a sense of humor like this
and also things like this 
and that we went to a music festival on an island once despite a hurricane warning
what a fabulous photographer you are
your explorer’s spirit
and interest in history (@ Fort Warren on Georges Island)
