Today is a very special day… it’s my wonderful sister Vanessa’s birthday. Happy 29th birthday Nessy! Hooray!

For once I’m going to be serious, so anyone feeling cynical or like they might feel an eye-roll coming on should just bugger off and read someone else’s blog today.

Most of you already know that Vanessa is my step-sister, but it’s been almost 20 years now and we just don’t bother with the step thing these days.

Interestingly, we really didn’t get along that well when we were first thrust into each other’s lives. We had both been the baby of the family, and suddenly I found myself being second-to-youngest and really didn’t like it much. Having been an only daughter, I wasn’t used to having sisters around and certainly wasn’t used to sharing my clothes, toys or personal space. It was pretty hard to come to grips with, and there were the inevitable fights and tantrums along the way.

To be honest, I couldn’t really say when it was that things changed, all I can say is that I will be eternally grateful that they did. Now, not only do I have someone in my life who I can truly call a sister, but someone who is also a dear and valued friend. I don’t think I could feel more of a bond with Nessy if we’d had the same parents.

I have never known anyone more selfless; Nessy is constantly concerned with the welfare of others, and despite everyone’s encouragement to the contrary, she rarely puts herself first.

Our conversations consist mainly of inside jokes and quotes from movies and tv shows we both love. I’m sure it sounds like gibberish to anyone listening, but there aren’t too many people who I laugh like that with. One of us will bring up some stupid thing, and the other just picks it up and runs with it… the sorts of things that have most people raising their eyebrows and backing away slowly.

We have our serious moments too. We have joint rants about politics, religion, idiot drivers, relationships… you name it. In Nessy I always find an open and sympathetic ear. When I need grounding and perspective, she doesn’t throw it in my face, she just is my ground and my perspective.

It’s really hard being so far away from each other, and I am so grateful that we live in the age of Skype, webcams, webchat and all those things that allow us to keep in touch over such a vast distance. A distance that we plan to bridge as soon as the time is right. Nessy and I have talked about travelling together since… probably about 1999 when I got back from my first trip to the States. Now I can’t wait to show her Norway and Europe, and from what I can tell she’s looking forward to it too.

So, on her birthday, I want to say to my sister, Vanessa:

You mean more to me than you’ll ever know and I admire you more than I can say. You are the epitome of grace and dignity no matter what life throws at you, and we both know you’ve had more tests of character than is fair for anyone. You have the strongest spirit I’ve ever known, and you are an inspiration to me whenever things are going badly in my life. There should be more people like you in the world.

You deserve the life I know you’re wishing for. I’m wishing for it too.

I love you.