Matching Bracelets

There are some people who come into your life, and there are some people who are born into your life. My sister was born when I was three years old. I remember bickering with my older brother when my mom was pregnant about whether the baby would be a boy or a girl; I, of course, wanted a sister. When she finally arrived in this world, I was ecstatic (and not only because I won the bet). Having a sister is one of the most wonderful things in the world, even despite the teenage years when you are arguing about wearing each others’ shoes and reading the latest Seventeen before the other gets to see it.

I recently spent five days in Costa Rica with Amanda—five days of uninterrupted sister time. Not only did we have a chance to conquer the rapids of the Pacuare River, swim in and zip-line through the rainforest, hike and tour nearby coffee fields, take a salsa class (followed by an impromptu dance party with just us and the one other guest there), and practice yoga twice a day, we also had time to talk—about our lives, our fears, our hopes, our dreams. Sitting in the dining room at the yoga retreat where we stayed, we would cause stares of unbelief as we would laugh till our stomachs hurt and we were ready to pee our pants. Moments like those, moments when you are sitting with your sister, reminiscing and giggling, surrounded by the lush landscape of Costa Rica, remind you how beautiful life can be.

As we were sitting in the airport, waiting for my sister’s flight to board, we saw two little girls walk by—one was around three and the other was about five. They were holding hands, had similar bobs, and were wearing identical white button-down shirts, denim pants and red Keds. We looked at them and chuckled, remembering the matching perms, yellow shirts and green plaid pants, jellies and denim jumpers. As they walked through the airport, hand-in-hand, I wished for them a lifetime of that—a lifetime of having a sister, a friend, to share the delights and tribulations of life. I am so grateful I won that bet, and I love that my sister is still there to walk by me, hand-in-hand, wearing our matching yoga bracelets.

Amanda and I in our matching outfits and perms.

Our matching bracelets from Costa Rica.

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