My sister, Paige, and I used to play this game when we were kids…we’d jump off the dock at the lake and see who can swim to the next dock without freaking out about the algae touching our bellies, the possible snakes lurking beneath our toes, or that water was freezing cold (we played this game in the fall too). It was so silly but it gave us so much pleasure and we just kept on jumping off that dock!

My sister has many gifts…the gift of gab, the promise of uncontrollable laughter and the ability to recite movie quotes from great eighties movies like High Spirits, Beatlejuice and The Goonies.

Growing up, Paige had many nicknames…Goldilocks, Pebbles and Peaches to name a few. This picture of Paige in her Pebbles costume with a Rapunzel wig is one of my favorites.

There were once two sisters
who were not afraid of the dark
because the dark was full of the other’s voice
across the room,
because even when the night was thick
and starless
they walked home together from the river
seeing who could last the longest
without turning on her flashlight,
not afraid
because sometimes in the pitch of night
they’d lie on their backs
in the middle of the path
and look up until the stars came back
and when they did,
they’d reach their arms up to touch them
and did.
― Jandy Nelson, The Sky is Everywhere

Many happy returns Pebbles! I’m not afraid of the dark or jumping off the dock as long as we’re together. I love you! xx

Read more about my beautiful little sister here.