Random Access

Wednesday – 10 June 2015
Today is New Comic Book Day.
It is also No Bad News Thursday Eve.

It is also the birthday of my sister, Kristen.

Thirty-two years ago, the child who would – for years – become the bane of my burgeoning teenage existence was born. To say that we didn’t get along is being generous. And not entirely true. Kristen got along with me fine; I, however, very often just didn’t want to be bothered with my little sister.

Things got a little better over the next couple of years. A little. Then I moved back to Maryland for school and off to college. By the time that I returned home (or that home, anyway…), I’d had a rectal craniotomy and learned to like – and like being around – her. No, our age gap didn’t always make things easy or by any means perfect, but we got along much better. After I moved to Utah, she would occasionally call me to discuss things she couldn’t – or just didn’t want to – talk with our parents about. I remember thinking how much our relationship had changed and how good it felt to know that it had.

She was a great kid and she’s grown to become a great woman, wife, and mother.

She’s someone I’m proud to call my little… um, make that “younger”… sister and my friend.

Happy birthday!