When I was a little girl, I wanted a sister more than anything in the world. I wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder and form braiding lines with my sisters and mother. I wanted to ride to town in a wagon. I wanted to fight the blistering cold with sisters by my side in dresses that our mother would make for us. 

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I wanted to be Madeline and live my life in lines alongside eleven other girls. I wanted us to stay up late telling secrets and talking about the cute Spanish boy who would move in next door. 

That never happened and I don't know any Spanish boys.

I'm a sister to two incredible young men and I wouldn't have it any other way.

When I read Hansel and Gretel, I pictured Andy dropping breadcrumbs on the forest earth behind our footsteps.

When I read To Kill a Mockingbird, I pictured myself in a ham costume and Andy by my side.

When I read The Catcher in the Rye, Andy was my Holden Caulfied.

My childhood consisted of exploring underground sewers, island hopping on pillows in the living room floor, catching insects instead of screaming about them, shelling peas at my grandparent's house, sprawling out on the cool carpeted floors and playing mindless videogames on the hottest summer days,  hiking through snake-infested creeks with my brother's friends, reading The Monster at the End of This Book to my younger brother and adding horror and enthusiasm when pages were turned, watching Lord of the Rings frequently and quoting it, acting out the Twelve Days of Christmas for my parents, and having the fullest heart of any girl my age.

I would rather make an insect collection than watch a Mary Kate and Ashley movie.

I'd rather do tedious homework or read a book than talk about fashion.

I'd rather play Scrabble than curl someone's hair.

If I had the opportunity to live my life over again and pick sisters instead of brothers, I'd pick brothers every time. I've got a knight in shining armor and a gentle giant.

 My knight loves whole milk and my giant only drinks water.

My knight plays piano and my giant would be a great juggler.

My knight is taking scuba diving at UNA and my giant takes Speech Rehab at a middle school.

Andy is my night sky and Jon Christian is the stars. 

That being said, Andy took a trip this past summer that follows Steinbeck's trip in Travels with Charley. 

He's a world traveler and a lady charmer.

http://limbofthenation.wordpress.com/

I strongly recommend checking it out.