It's a Family Affair

I don’t normally do this kind of thing, but I am moved to express my gratitude for my sisters. I'm thinking about what I would say to them if I knew it wouldn't make me burst into tears. This is why I don't say these things out loud - fear of crying in front of people. Anyway, I'm going to take advantage of technology and post here things I'd like them to know.

My sisters have been one of the major influences in my life. When I think back on my childhood, I first think of my sisters, not my parents. They were always much more prominent in my life than either my father or my mother and they, in many ways, raised me. I learned more from them than from anyone else.

Annie

Annie is the sister who always took care of me, taught me to have a sense of humor, and made me love silly British humor (think Monty Python). She inspired me to think about things like politics and social policy from a very young age. She was always the epitome of "cool" to me. None of the other 5th graders in my school had t-shirts with the NORML logo on them! It was never easy to find privacy in our house and there wasn't a lot of individual attention available. But Annie would take me with her when she went out on errands so it was just us, and she would let me sit with her and her friends when they were hanging out at our house. She was such a role model for me that I never looked anywhere else for examples of how to be a woman. Annie is the voice inside my head that stokes my ambition and makes me work hard. She also taught me to have fun and to find humor, even in very trying circumstances. She's a model of forgiveness and love and hope. She showed me how to be both openly emotional and strong, and I will forever be grateful to her.

Maggie

Maggie is the sister who, in many ways, is still a mystery to me. She taught me to read, one of my greatest pleasures in life, and wore me out on long walks. She is usually the first sister I mention when people ask me about my family because I'm so impressed by the major mid-life career changes she has made. Through her example, she showed me how to engage in intellectual and personal exploration. As a child, I always thought of Maggie as perfect, the ideal. She was always being pursued by boys and seemed to just know things about life. This made her seem distant from me, since I was swimming in imperfections and, being 5 years younger, knew next to nothing about life. But, just when I would be feeling like I would never understand her, she would reach out and connect with me. I could never predict what would make her laugh, and Maggie laughing is a pleasure to see. She’s a very serious person, but her smile transforms her face. I will always be grateful for her.

Katie

Katie is the sister I played with, fought with, and stuck to throughout most of my life. I guess sharing a bed with someone for 12 years creates a bond. She's opinionated, active, and thoroughly engaged in her life. She's the person who reminded me that I should bake cookies with my kids, carve pumpkins with them, eat meals with them, take them to festivals and shows, and make sure they had the resources they needed to pursue their passions. (Yes, I needed reminding of all of that.) Katie has made me a better parent than I would have been without her influence. I haven't always appreciated her as much as I should have and we've had some wicked arguments. But I know the ways that she has shaped me. She has been the force that has pulled me out of my own head and into the world, and I will be eternally grateful for her.

My sisters are so important to me that I named my children after them. That’s about the highest praise I can offer. So, as Thanksgiving approaches, I’m stating publicly that I am grateful for my sisters.