I don’t really remember August 1^st 1997, but it was one of the best days of my life. There is a home video, taken by my aunt, of just-turned-2 year old Nikki in pjs, twirling my hair and sucking my thumb, as usual. I must have been asking for my mom, because from behind the camera my aunt says “She’s at the hospital, she’s going to bring home baby brother-sister.” I had a totally blank look on my face, but from the way she said it you could tell that my parents had been prepping me for a new sibling, talking about “brother-sister“ as an exciting new member of the family. Turns out, brother-sister came out a sister, and just like that, we were a family of four. I shared a room with K until we were 12 and 10, so when I say she’s been by my side since birth, I mean literally.

K is one of a kind. She was feisty and stubborn growing up, which is hilarious because now she is cool as a cucumber. She is brave, dedicated, and can take charge of any situation she is in. She’s the kind of person you want on your side when things are going wrong. I got into a car accident recently on my way to meet K for dinner (I’m fine!), and as shell-shocked as I was, when I heard her voice yelling, “that’s my sister!” to get past the man stopping traffic, I knew I was okay. I’m so proud of her for taking a leap of faith and moving to her dream job in Hawaii a few years ago (though I was THRILLED when she moved an hour away from me last year), and absolutely rocking it in forensics. I got to watch her marry the love of her life, and the joy she exuded brought me to happy tears. She is starting an exciting new chapter and I am SO excited to see where it leads. K, it is an honor to be your big sister.

As it turns out, I liked having a sister so much that when I was 4, my parents gave me another one. M had me wrapped around her finger from the day she was born. My mom got K and I Barbie dolls as a “present from M” when she came home from the hospital, which we totally bought and loved her for it. Another of my favorite home videos shows newborn M laying on the bed, flanked by K and I as we ooh’d and ahh’d over her. “Not her face!” you could hear my mom say as I poked at M’s cheeks. “But she’s soooo cute,” I replied, “I just have to!”

M was always my little buddy, but now she has grown into a woman I aspire to be like. She knows what she wants and she is not afraid to go for it. I love watching her succeed at new adventures, whether it is a job, partner, or trip. She is a little fashionista, and keeps me hip with the newest trends and pop culture. You never have to wonder if she cares, or if she is there for you, because she shows up for me every time I need her. A call from M is like free therapy, and I am guaranteed to hang up with a smile on my face. I trust her implicitly. I can’t believe she is no longer the little girl that I still think of, but she has such a bright future and it makes me so happy to watch it unfold. M, I hart you so much.

I have fulfilled a lot of different roles in my life, but being a sister is one of the best. I hope I can be for them what they are to me, which is a lifelong supporter, confidante and friend. Thanks mom and dad for making that happen, and for raising us to value family so much. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have K and M by my side. Guys, you are my world, keep being the wonderful humans you are.

Love, Your big sis