Things I like about Kate

Kate is my sister, for better or for worse. Mostly it's for better. But before I get into all of that, let me give you a brief bio:

Kate, nee Katherine Elizabeth, was born to Sandy and Jim in the New York City suburb of Stamford, CT. A dramatic and talented youth, Kate excelled in dance, soccer, Sunday school plays and school as a child. At the age of three Kate was blessed with a younger brother, Josh and then bla bla bla.

Four years later I was born-what a miracle! No seriously, I was so cute! I had little blond hair and it was all curly and stuff. And I giggled a lot and ran around and I put on these silly glasses. Do you know the glasses I'm talking about? Big plastic ones with no lenses? I mean GLASSES with no LENSES-hahaha. How funny.

But yes. From the date of my birth, Kate and I were pretty close. She liked to hold me and dress me up. She taught me songs (including 'Castle on a Cloud'-available on VHS at my house if you're really interested. I think it's on the 'Home Movies 1990' tape in case you get there and no one's home to guide you) and ran around with me. Sometimes we took naps together on the hammock at the Cape. Other times she flipped me upside down and then I ran away...

(Here we are together-she's top left and I'm in the front row/middle-circa 1988. My cousin Andrew might be in between us, but that didn't/doesn't/never will stop our love)

Oh it was so much fun!
As I got older and I realized that Kate wasn't just some chick living with me and that we actually were RELATED/involved in a lifelong relationship I really began to appreciate her. We talked about 'deep issues' (like 'my hair looks bad' from the ages of 8-22, or 'Are you mad at me?' from the age of 16-22, or 'Want to see something funny?' from the ages of 4-22), watched movies together, traveled the world. I really loved, and still do, having my sister. I began to realize how lucky I was to have her.

(Versailles Y2K6)

Which brings me to today's list 'Things I like about Kate'. Let me just say, in light of recent circumstances, that I was totally going to write this entry anyway. And the fact that Kate e-mailed Erin/Debbie and convinced them to write an entry about her has little/no impact on my creative choices.

So let's begin. Things I like about Kate.

1) My favorite thing about Kate, since I'm self-centered, is that she's related to me. As a sharer of my genes Kate has great hair, a good sense of humor, is pretty tall, beautiful, smart, artistic...well I guess I'm getting ahead of myself.

2) I like that Kate is silly. Kate and I have similar senses of humor. As I've stated before, in previous lists of this nature, I really appreciate a good sense of humor. Nothing 'turns me on' (be careful because I AM talking about my sister and I DID use the phrase 'turn me on'...but it's nothing like that) more than either an a) gin & tonic or b) good sense of humor. Kate sends me funny videos at work, and because we have the same sense of humor, I usually if not ALWAYS like them. Kate tells me funny jokes (like the 'interrupting seastar' one from a few years ago that I used at many-a-party in my day) that make me laugh and I like laughing so I like that Kate tells me jokes that make me laugh.

Because Kate is so silly, I can tell her pretty much anything and a get a good response out of her. I can tell her about songs I like and within a week she'll know all the words and is more than happy to sing in the street with me. Or, other times, if I suggest that we do something stupid like- "Hey Kate, we should really play Power Hour on Valentines Day. Wouldn't that SHOW THEM?!"-she'll oblige me. That's so nice. Thanks for being silly and playing with me Kate.

3) I like that Kate is going to be a Rabbi. I know that Erin said this...wait. Should I refer to my competition in my own blog? Maybe not. WELL, I , Me, Only ME, really think it's cool that Kate is becoming a Rabbi. She gets a Masters in Hebrew Letters-I like the idea of that! She gets to lead services and help people. She teaches children-I like children so I like the idea of someone I like teaching some things/small people that I like. Kate explores her Jewish identity on a daily basis and I work at a Jewish non-profit...so...that's fun. When I have questions about certain holidays/practices she is more than helpful and I appreciate it. Thanks for choosing a career path that benefits me, Kate!

4) I like that Kate IS, or is starting to be, honest with me. Let's face it...I might SEEM perfect but sometimes I'm really annoying/needy/demanding/slow/mean and I need someone to tell me to cut it out. Actually, is it needy that I demand that behavior from her? Anywho, I appreciate Kate calling me out on my behavior and helping me to grow as a person. Kate for Rabbi in '09!

5) I like that Kate likes those '#1 Ladies Detective Agency Books'. Oh wait...no I don't.

6) I like that Kate used to tell me I was adopted...oh awkward. No no no. I didn't like that at all!

7) I like that, one time, when I was a senior in High School, Kate read through 'Hamlet' with me because I found out the day before the big test that I needed to memorize quotes from the play. STUPID MS. _______. I can't believe she did that! But luckily, Kate was nice enough to act out the play with me and I got a 94! The highest grade in the class!

8) I like that after I broke my foot sophomore year of college Kate came down to DC and took care of me. That's so nice. Not a lot of people would do that and I really appreciate it!

9) I like that Kate lets me borrow her skirts and earrings and scarves and other things that I decide randomly that I like. Thanks for being generous Kate, I like that! I get bored with what I'm wearing so easily-it's nice to have variety in my wardrobe without having to pay for it!

10) I like that Kate introduced me to the store Laila Rowe. What a great store!
http://www.lailarowe.com/accessories/

11) I like that Kate defends me and introduces me. So, I don't want to make too many more reasons on this list. But Kate defends me when people are bothering me, at least she used to a lot. I don't really think I've needed her to defend me lately. Kate also introduces me to people. Like Rachel and Morris, and Nancy <3, Shalom and Yakov (though she did keep telling me how hot he was and then I couldn't talk to him without blushing) and Shimon. Thanks for being my yenta Kate!

I like you a lot.