HAPPY BIRTHDAY ATE!

It's my sister's birthday today, Friday the 13th. She's 32 years old now. I call her "Ate" (ah-te) because that's how we usually call older female siblings here in the Philippines. It's a sign of respect. Her real name is Sherry. She is a doctor and works at a government hospital here in Manila. I see her in the weekends because she always drops by to see the boys and we hear mass together on Sundays.

I love my sister. She has her quirks but probably because we are both Cancer-born, we have never had big fights or quarrels. We usually get along so well and are attuned to each other than most sisters. I usually know what she's thinking or what would probably irritate her before she says it. I suppose the biggest difference we have is that I'm very fond of animals and she's not. Even dogs, she would not readily approach them. She says, she loves them from a distance. My sister is small. In fact, she is smaller than me or my brother. She got that from my mom's side of th family because my mom is the eldest child but she too, is the smallest.

My sister has been my model when we were growing up. I think because of that, I pushed myself too hard to be like her. I really don't blame her. I just did not have the courage then to discover who I really was. I thought it would be best to be in her shadow. But of course now I know better.

I guess now, looking at our lives, my sister and I have really gone separate ways. She loves her career as a doctor and I am very fulfilled with my family. I still hope that she will have her own family eventually and of course, I would want to have my own career as well but I'm sure it will all come in God's time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ATE! I love you!