Today, my little sister turns…. well, let’s just call it another year older.
She always has to share her birthday with that of our nation, but this year, I’m not celebrating Independence Day at all – today, it’s just
Kristin’s birthday!Â
Isn’t she cute as a 3 1/2 year old?
(or was it 4 1/2)Â Â Â Â Â
Here are a few things you may or may not know about Kristin….
First, you’ll never find a more loyal friend. She’ll defend you to the end – but will also be your conscience, because she is, after all, the fairness police :) It’s been a difficult struggle for her to recognize and accept that life just isn’t fair – because she wants it to be for EVERYONE!
She used to be the responsibility police as well.  But over time, I think she’s discovered life can be more enjoyable if we don’t take responsibility for others responsibility or lack thereof. With age comes wisdom.  Â
Kristin is generous to a fault – as exhibited by her innumerable acts of thoughtfulness.  A card with a little cash hidden in the back, just because she knows you’ve hit a rough spot financially (never mind she might be too)….  cards and gifts sent off in time for every birthday or holiday, hours upon hours spent editing photos or videos to make a special surprise, finding ways to help pay for my trip to Hawaii with her when I couldn’t really afford it.  Â
As a teenager, I’d find sweet notes from her hidden in my room, or flown at me in the form of a paper airplane. 
I’d come home to discover a gold lame’ bag, filled with M&Ms on my pillow…. Kristin spent her allowance money to do that – even though I teased her horribly, pretending I was going to drop her off the balcony (I suspect she actually enjoyed that game, knowing I wouldn’t REALLY drop her) and making her sell popcicles with Chris for a measley reward. But this post is about Kristin, not me…
She has always been a good sport too. Especially with her hair. Whenever I’d get the itch to cut my long hair, she let me satisfy it by cutting hers instead.  She’s had a lot of hairstyles over the years.
And she’s been willing to indulge my silliness and cosmic musings in a way that only a sister can.  She can be pretty silly herself, though.   We have an ongoing habit that if we ever go to a restaurant or store that takes your order/reservation, and then says “could I get a name?” – the name they get is Guenivier, which always draws strange looks. I love seeing how they try to spell it.  Mind you they never ask, “could I get your name” – it’s always just a name… so we feel no obligation to give them ours.
She has always been there to help with the really hard stuff, whenever I’ve needed her and when no one else showed up (or even if they did). Â
Stuff like apartment hunting, packing/ hauling/ unpacking for multiples moves, painting houses, cleaning out houses, drafting divorce and child support agreements, working til 2am (hours after everyone else had left) to help me hang a hundred butterflies from the church ceiling/arrange huge trees to create the perfect “enchanted forest” for Ashley’s wedding, working her butt off in the kitchen during the reception (along with mom, bart and grandma) because the stupid R.S. ladies who committed to be there didn’t show up. I could NOT have pulled off Ashley’s wedding without her.
Kristin is smart as a whip – though she didn’t realize it til far too late in her life. She is a talented writer, a whiz with numbers, and can turn ANYTHING into a chart or graph that will blow your socks off.   She’s really quite brilliant. And, I’m so happy that she shares my disdain for “tacky forms” – and recognizes the importance of a well laid out newsletter or webpage.  Â
AND – even better, she’s a total wordnerd!
Oh, and along with this smart thing – she’s ORGANIZED. I have made a pie chart graphic in her honor. As she has said many times: A man without a plan is not a man…. (I, apparently, am not a man).
She thinks ahead, when we travel she provides these incredible checklists to make sure we don’t forget anything. When we traveled to Hawaii together for the first time, over a period of a couple months she emailed a history of the islands, information about the culture, just stuff to make sure the trip was all it could possibly be. She’s just very considerate, including sharing the benefits of her organizational skills with all – and I really appreciate it.
She’s also got a great sense of humor and we do our fair share of laughing when we’re together. And we seem to keep her kids amused.
Speaking of which, she’s also a great mom, and has raised (is raising) two incredible smart, gifted, thoughtful, respectful, fun kids. She’s instilled in them the understanding that they can trust their own feelings and judgement – that they are capable of making wise decisions – and they do. A devoted companion to Craig, I think he’d tell you she’s the perfect wife for him. Â She starts planning months in advance for a birthday, anniversary or Christmas gift for him – to make sure it is something thoughtful, unique and meaningful.
  
She can be tough and strong and put you in your place if you’re out of line… it’s the Marine in her. Yes, a Marine. (“I can make you handicapped if you want to park there legally….”)Â She’s also sensitive, compassionate and tenderhearted. I’m grateful she was able to attend to our mom/grandma during the last couple of weeks of my grandmother’s life. I know it was really hard for her – both physically and emotionally – but she never complained and turned it into a beautiful experience.
We share more private jokes than one could possible count. She’s been my travel companion, commiserator, emotional counselor, technical support, fellow photo fanatic, partner in crime, conscience, cheerleader, moral support and best friend for longer than I can remember. And, honestly, I don’t know how I would have survived many of my life experiences without her. I’m so glad I didn’t have to find out….
Love you – happy birthday!
P.S. Let’s plan another trip!
I don’t have time for jury duty! Not that I would mind serving as a juror, mind you, but being the sole support for my household I kind of need my income….  
Bravo TV has the best reality shows – 
Oh, watermelon, thou perfect summer fruit.
And now, part 2 of our
After a ferry trip through the beautiful islands we pulled into port at Friday’s Harbor – a charming little town with a lively waterfront – shops, art galleries, restaurants. Just sailing over, even without a car, to spend a few hours in Friday’s Harbor would make a fun day trip.
For the educational part of our journey, we decided to visit the English Camp we saw on all the maps. Here is Kathy on the road to the camp, saluting in memory of fallen comrades, perhaps?  
From there we headed to Roche Harbor for dinner, but made a stop at the 
 Listen and enjoy….
In addition to the farm animals, we saw quite a bit of wildlife as we drove around the island. There was a fox sitting near the road, with two smaller foxes tumbling and playing. I really wish I’d stopped in the middle of the road and taken a picture (a car was behind us, and no where to pull over).   
We also saw several deer – including a doe and two small fawns hiding in the trees, along with a pheasant, a bunny, an eagle, and a fat lazy seal.
On our final day we made a visit to the Lime Kiln Lighthouse / State Park. We met a family from Minnesota (or Winconsin?) who have traveled and spent every summer for 15+ years volunteering at the lighthouse – which is one of the best places to watch for whales.  
She arrived in Seattle at the ungodly hour of 7:50am (neither of us are “morning people”) and we headed straight into Seattle for the “Savor Seattle” tour at Pikes Place (review to follow in another post).  This is Kathy standing by one of the many flower peddlers in the market.
.   
So she was delighted to tell me that the final wine we would be tasting is a sweet wine…Â a dessert wine, 
Molbaks is the ultimate garden store…  acres of flowers and fabulous interior decorating/gift sotre. On a rainy or cool day we’d have spent hours there. But, unfortunately, it was also a bit warm for both of us – so our stay was brief. 
