They say it's your birthday!

Dear Lisa,
Happy Birthday, sister. I thought it was only appropriate on this very special day in October to dig through my Student Portfolio and personal writings and find a poem I'm not sure I ever shared with you back in '94. This was written shortly after my own birthday when I asked to borrow a certain pair of stinky clogs.

They looked a little like this:

Remember?

We looked like this:

You said no. I wrote this:

Look in my eyes, see who I am.

I am not you, I am me.

See in my heart, all there is to see.

Try to see the good, it is truly there.

Be who I am, just try to think,

what it would be like to be me.

I think different, I am not you.

You always yell, you always scream,

just try to think how I feel.

Your screams put a bruise on my heart.

You may not know, but they do.

I try to ask, but listen you won't.

My words seem to vanish, as if never heard.

Stop for a moment, listen to me.

It is as if some hate beneath you,

is given to me.

What is it?

What is so wrong with me?

The words that mean so much were never said.

I try to understand.

My heart just waited.

No more will I wait.

BAM. I really wanted those clogs. BUT...you made up for all of it by telling me you got me a special present. A Debbie Gibson HAT. I had visions of grandeur. Visions of this: 

It looked like this:

I still love you, anyway. Happy Birthday to my sister! If you want to borrow anything of mine today, it's YOURS. Kids? What? You want to celebrate with my kids? That can be arranged. I love you!

Love,

Laura