My Little Sis

A note to my sister 2,000 miles away: You’re incredible. You’re strong. You’re kind. You’re genuine. You’re brave. You’re funny. You’re innocent. You’re a one of a kind human.

I have been thinking about you and mom a lot lately. All the way out in LA. On the other side of the world it seems like. I think about the courage it took for you to leave the rest of us behind. To leave home, to leave your friends. to leave the thought of college in the dust. You made a choice when you were only 16 that high school wasn’t for you. I remember fearing that you would decide to graduate a year early, & I would have to share my graduation celebration with you. It was selfish, I know. Turns out that backfired on you. Instead you spent your birthday at my graduation party… Whoops. But you decided you’d stay one semester. One semester to feel like a senior in high school. One semester to give high school a final shot.

High school sucked compared to now right? What the hell were we thinking? I should have graduated early too. But it is what it is. Now look at you. Here is my baby sister turning 19 years old in a few months, dating a boy, living in LA, rediscovering herself, and so much more. As your older sister I can’t be anything less than proud. Because I am so so so very proud of you. I’m proud of the tears you wept on the front steps when your high school boyfriend broke your heart. I’m proud of the concern you felt when you got something important to you, but your friend did not. I’m proud of the back-pain you endured, the electrocution on the Dunbar stage, the dressing room mishaps, the queen b’s you faced. I’m proud of you for getting through these things. For learning from them. For falling straight on your face, but getting back up because here you are.

Those lessons give you the tools you are using now. The tools to act on stage or for TV. The tools to grow into a woman. The tools to be bold, to make a name for yourself. and to treat yourself like a mother offing princess if you want too because you deserve it.

I remember sitting on your bed, talking about life. Things you would never talk to mom about but didn’t know who else to talk to them about. I remember being the mediator with you and mom because you just never got each other. But now look at you. Look at you two. You fight (duh). But mom gave up her whole life to help you follow your dream. I wish more than anything I had mom 15 min down the road from me when I’m here at school. You’re so lucky - even if you don’t realize it right now.

You did it Addy-paddy. You did it. Whether this is the highest you reach or this is just the beginning. You did it. You believed you could, so you did. You don’t have to spend the rest of your life wondering “What If I Went to LA and Followed my Dream.” Because you did it.

I couldn’t be more proud of you. I’ll always be here for when you fall. Your sister,

-- Lex --