Happy Birthday Munchkin!!

This week, my sister Samantha will celebrate her 21st, birthday!

Samantha is the type of girl that, when you look at her, you want to throw a Twinkie at her, because she is very thin and tiny. Believe me, my sister can and does eat! By the doctors order, she is required to eat every two hours. I have actually seen her eat a double whopper with cheese a large French fry, two giant tubs of popcorn, a large pepperoni pizza from Papa John's and two chicken quesadilla's from Taco Bell within a four-hour time period. I smell food and I gain 10 pounds, after eating all of that she didn't gain a single pound. Everyone says it will eventually catch up with her, I'm thinking it will be after she has seven children!!

She is the middle child and by far the most vocal of my parents' three children. Often times with her attitude and bluntness, she is misconstrued to be something that rhymes with the word witch. She just tells everyone she's honest and she is. If I ever want to hear the truth, no matter how bad it is, Samantha will always give me her honest opinion.

She's a fighter, my little sister, for all 100 pounds of her, will take on anybody to defend my brother or I. Where David and I are more reserved and willing to take someone giving us a hard time, my sister will be right there, ready to take the person out. When we were younger, the three of us would fight with each other over everything. However, if anyone else tried to butt into the mix, we immediately defended each other.

How does the saying go, "no one can pick on my brother/sister but me," it was definitely true at our house!

I was very lucky to grow up with my brother and sister. When we were younger, my parents bought Samantha and I our very own dollhouses, David received a garage. To this day, my mother says it was the best investment. You see we played with them for years, and even when it wasn't cool anymore, we still did. We always used our imagination and my parents knew that if we were upstairs, there would be no fighting that afternoon.

Samantha and I shared a room growing up. Whenever we would get really mad at one another, we would launch the stuffed animals across the room at each other. Our punishment was to hold hands and tell each other how wonderful the other person was. When we were finished at the end of our 10-minute punishment, we would have to give each other a hug. However, no matter how often we fought, we always told each other we loved each other before going to sleep.

I will never forget my freshman year at college. I received a phone call from my mother, who was hysterical! The words you will never believe what your sister brought home still echo in my mind. I thought my mother was talking about a dog, and she was in a way, my sister's first boyfriend left a lot to be desired. The young boy, I think he was much older was trying to date my 15-year-old sister. He made such an impression on my parents that my mother promptly requested my presence at home that weekend. My father threatened the poor guy's life and my mother attempted to ground my sister. And my brother stayed on the phone line with me so I could get the play by play, David was laughing the entire time. I never met the kid but I heard it was because he was scared of me.

Punishing my sister did nothing but make the situation worst. So my parents in all their brilliance allowed the relationship, with very stringent rules. Three months into it when he wanted to break those rules my sister dumped the in front of the house, with my entire family (aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents included) inside cheering her on. I think it was the only time my parents encouraged her to be rude to someone.

My final year at college was Samantha's first year. I helped her through the trauma of a roommate, spending an arm and a leg for books and the fire at Blumberg Hall. After the fire she moved in with me. Though their were still times where I wanted to strangle her and I know we called home more than once to resolve our issues with our mother talking us through the fight. It was great to share that time with her.

When we were younger I was her Issy. It was suppose to be sissy, but Samantha had a problem saying names that began with an "s" including own name. She was my Munchkin.

When my grandfather died, Samantha was the first person I hugged, and she held my hand during his funeral. I am very fortunate to have such a wonderful family, but I am extremely grateful for my sister and brother. Without them, I wouldn't have made it.

As the years have gone by, I have watched this awkward little girl, who use to play by herself on the playground, turn into a beautiful butterfly. My sister is strong and independent. She is a good friend to everyone that knows her and a great sister. Every time I have needed to vent, complain, cry or laugh, she has always been there to answer her phone. Yes, she is going to make mistakes in life. Yes, she has made some decisions and choices that I wouldn't have made. But one of the great things about life is it is ours to live.

Someday, when I get married I want her to be my maid-of-honor, when we are old and wrinkly I hope that we will be the old ladies causing all of the problems in the nursing home. As we age, we learn what is important in life, and family is at the top.

Happy birthday Munchkin, I love you just the way you are!