From my sister I learned to express myself. She is a poet by nature, and when she wasn’t looking, I would see for myself how she viewed the world. Much understanding would not come until later, but the understanding did arrive, and continues to reveal itself to me.
From my sister, I learned to passionately defend that which I hold dear. She referred to people she cared about as her “babies”. She would defend her babies fiercely, verbally if needed, but mostly by offering guidance, wisdom and straight talk.
I learned from my sister the practical distillations of my father’s teachings. She put into action what he taught, and I learned how they worked in real life through her example.
My sister exemplified my mother’s perseverance in her dogged pursuit of what was right for her babies. This perseverance flourished in the face of adversity. There is no more noble pursuit than to persevere in the service of others.
This she taught me.
Meditations of a Bald, Fat Guy 