Today is National Siblings Day. I feel very lucky to have a sibling that I also consider my friend. Things didn’t start out that way though.

My sister and I were very different kids growing up. I don’t have very many memories of us playing together because we liked very different things. My earliest memories of her were of me trying to follow her around, to be with her, as she played with her other friends. She would complain about it to my parents, and I can recall my dad saying “Stacey just wants to be like you, Trish, she looks up to you, she loves you.” She wasn’t enthused.

Isn’t it funny how we remember the not so good stuff? I remember her doing things to annoy me, like crossing over the invisible line separating us in the back seat. “Mom, Trisha keeps touching my side of the seat,” I’d whine, as my sister snickered with this devilish twinkle in her eye. Although it seemed like I mostly bothered her as a child, I’ve always looked up to my big sister.

As adults, I’m so glad we’ve become good friends. She’s always been a sounding board for me, given me her honest opinion, and cheered me on when I needed encouragement. We’ve helped each other through the ups and downs of our 20’s and early 30’s, been each other’s biggest supporters, and provided constructive criticism when we’ve needed it.

Despite not living in the same city since our early 20’s, we’ve managed to build a solid friendship that means so much to me. She is a selfless mother and one of the hardest working people I know. I feel so lucky to have her in my life. Of course, I don’t know what it’s like not to have a sibling, but I just hope my two kids have even a fraction of the relationship my sister and I have.

Happy National Siblings Day, Trish. I love you.