The One Where We Revisit Emma Anne

So, I've got this one sister....and she's basically awesome. I don't know how else to say it. A constant source of support, an infinitely deep foundation, an incredible encourager, a wise woman...and she dropped me on my head when I was a baby. That's right, you heard what I said. If you were ever wondering why I'm so strange (and by strange, I mean smart, funny, gifted in academics, incredibly good-looking, fashionable, social, and all that jazz) well, that's the reason. Really, everyone's big sister should drop him on his head when he is a child (by the way, I usually use the masculine pronoun to refer to the neuter case because, honestly, using him/her, or him or her, is a ridiculous waste of words. And don't get in my face about it if you're some weird feminazi. It's not worth getting in a fight about and, ultimately, you know that it's the proper way to do things).

But I don't really want to talk about Emma Anne dropping me on my head as a child. It wasn't her fault...(that's a blatant lie, really...but at least I admit it, right? That's got to count for something) What I do want to talk about is Emma Anne. I recently had the pleasure of spending a couple hours with her and Superman (her husband). They are simply delightful people to be around. By the time I arrived at their house, their kids had been put to bed, and they were just waiting to hang out with me. They made me dinner. It wasn't anything super fancy, just a toasted roast beef (I love beef) sandwich. But it was special. You know why it was special? Because it came with a side of time spent with Emma Anne and Superman. That made it a fantastic sandwich. In my earlier years (i.e. everything up until the last couple months), I took my relationship with my sister for granted. She's my sister, and that meant that she was usually around to talk to, complain to, and spend time with. But that was just it. She had to do it because she was my sister. When I would come home for my breaks, I would spend an afternoon or evening with her, and the rest of the time was spent with my friends. I regret this. Not because I hate spending time with my friends, but rather because spending time with her is something to be sought after. Not only that, but she likes spending time with me. Which is something that I always knew, but again, took for granted. Of course she likes spending time with me, I'm her brother. But she "gets" me. She knows who I am. Even if I don't always keep her updated with all the little details of my life (I really do try though...) she still knows the part of me that hides behind the mask. I think it's a well-established fact that there is a special bond between siblings, and it's my opinion that this is part of what makes it special. I can act as mysterious and enigmatic around my friends, be someone who I'm not. I can hide behind a mask all I want. But when I spend time with my sister, it all fades away. There is no mask. She's stuck with me. Just me. And she still chooses to be seen in public with me. Because we're not just friends. We're siblings. And I love her. Thanks for being awesome Emma Anne.

It's true, my ears stick out. But I have an elephant tie...so there.

~The Piebald Penguin

P.S. If you missed my last post about Emma Anne, click here.