My other sister

We became friends through grief and loss.  We became sisters through marriage.

We have fought at times, but you've always had my back.  We don't do everything the same, but it all works out in the end.  I think our disagreements were just sisters having to make up for not growing up together.

I never have to explain the ornery man I love to you...you grew up with him and know him well.  You know his heart is good, even when he does stupid crap.  I can gripe and whine to you and know that it won't change your love for him. 

I had babies while you begged God for your own, and then YOU had babies while I did the same.  We were never pregnant together, which was probably a good thing.  Someone had to have stable hormones!

We lost babies.  We cried for and with each other.  We always knew the other understood. 

Thirteen years.  Well, twelve and a half, but I'm rounding up.  All of my adult life, you've been in it.  We grew up together, grew into real adults together.

And now you're leaving tomorrow.  While it's not another planet, it seems like it might as well be.  No more "Hey, Val, can you watch the kids?"  No more last minute dinners together.  No more cousin overnights.  Just like that, over a couple weeks...

Seeing you hug my kids tonight, I know you didn't want to let them go.  They only have one Valoo, and they love you almost as much as you love them.

I'm not mad at you for leaving.  I know you have to go.  I just wish we could all go.  Transplant everyone and everything we love, drag it all down south with us.  But we can't.  And so, everything changes. 

Everything but our hearts.  Part of mine will go with you, and part of yours will stay here.  Sisters are like that, you know.  One minute, they're fighting, the next they're wishing they had more time to just play.

I love you, Val.  Here's to the next chapter of life...so far it sucks.  It must get better?  Either way, I've got your back and I know you've got mine.