Thirty Times Thirty

Today is my sister Ellie's 30th birthday.

1. Her husband, Mark, recently finished a stint in Iraq.
2. During which she and her son lived with my parents.
3. I miss her and can't wait until she returns to the Bay Area in October.
4. Shortly after her return she will give birth to child number two.
5. She plans on giving said child to me to raise.
6. Ellie's real name is Giselle but she's always been Ellie in our family.
7. She was named after the ballet Giselle so my mom forced her to be a ballerina.
8. When Ellie tried to quit ballet at around 13, my mom gave her a tv if she'd continue.
9. She ended up quitting, but she minored in dance at college. The girl can move.
10. She's an RN so she serves as the family medical consultant.
11. Ellie likes to work in the ER and she has many strange medical stories.
12. The rest of the family is grateful for her medical background so she can take care of my parents when they get old and feeble.
13. When Ellie was born she had a big strawberry birthmark on her head.
14. My mom still thought she was the most beautiful baby in the world. Apparently the rest of us were chopped liver.
15. Ellie has a tiny hole in one nostril where a nose ring used to live.
16. Ellie had mononucleosis in high school even though she'd never kissed any boys.
17. Ellie was the recipient of many bad perms as a child.
18. She has good hair now, and a wicked widow's peak.
19. She reads the magazine Real Simple and actually follows their advice.
20. Her house is organized and immaculate.
21. Especially the toilets because she is always barfing in them due to morning sickness.
22. Ellie is afraid of microbes.
23. Ellie can make anyone do anything and make them think it was their idea.
24. She was present at the birth of three of my four children and was very useful.
25. Ellie got to quit piano lessons because the teacher said she had no talent.
26. She spent most of her high school years sequestered in her room or at her friend Lindsay's house.
27. She is going on a fab vacation this summer to see her friend Andrea in Cambodia.
28. Ellie might be the funniest sister.
29. She's definitely the most fastidious.
30. Ellie is my favorite sister. Shhh, don't tell the others.

Thirty was a tough age for me. Go wish her a happy one by clicking here.