My Sister...

My sister Eliza ran her first marathon today.  26.2 Miles.  Blood, sweat, tears, training, sacrifice, passion, goals, drive, determination, CAN...these are just a few words that come to my mind when I think about her.  She finished in 4hrs and 18 minutes and said that the last 5 miles were the worst.  Did I mention she is currently nursing a baby right now too?  This girl is crazy.  And incredible.  And certainly not just because she ran a marathon.

When we younger Eliza and I were the "archest" of arch enemies.  We fought about everything from clothes to barbies to friends to who got to jump on the trampoline first.  If I remember correctly, we even threw a few punches at each other once.  The loathing was fierce.  It was real.

When we were teenagers things eased up a little bit because we didn't see each other as much.  She did her thing, I did mine.  There was still a clear and present enmity between us, but it was dormant.  I couldn't just push aside our past. 

Then, one day something happened.  And, like all lost boys and girls, we started to grow up.

 It took more time for me than it did for Eliza.  There were moments when I looked at her and it felt like she had just changed into a different person overnight.  We gradually started talking to each other.  Actually talking...I wasn't used to that.  It was weird at first, but slowly we built a relationship.  We reminisced.  We forgave.  We let go.......of a lot.  She initiated it all, so I give her all the credit.  She stepped forward and wanted to be my friend.  She made an effort.  I wasn't always the easiest subject to coerce into sisterhood.  In fact, sometimes I was downright defiant.  But she persisted; and she never gave up. 

 I've known Eliza my whole life, and I know her well. I can honestly say that I have never met anyone else quite like her. She is truly one of the "pure in heart".  She is genuine, and good.  She's funny.  She's selfless.  She's kind.  She inspires me.  She has an eternal perspective, and her actions exemplify that.  I can't say that about some people I know half as well.

So Eliza, here's to you. I love you and I'm proud of you.  I look up to you more than you will ever know.  I forgive you for jogging ahead of me when we used to go running together in high school.  I know now, you were just training for your marathon.  You were ready before me, but you always came back for me and helped me to finish.  Someday, I hope I'll catch up with you.  But for now, I'm just glad to have a best friend to run with. 

I love you sis.

Emma B.