A little Erica insight for you: When I was a kid, every birthday or Christmas list I ever created included the wish for a baby sister. (And a trampoline and a puppy, FYI.)
Sadly, I never got a baby sister. (Or the trampoline or puppy, now that you mention it.)
But recently my little brother, Jason, did something my parents never could. He got me a sister!
Last Saturday, J proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Kristin, and she said yes! Bam! Instant sister-in-law. Just add a diamond.
Several years ago my brother very kindly consented to a ridiculous arrangement that entitled me, as the oldest, to get married first. That way, I wouldn't be a loser who had to watch her younger sibling beat her to the altar. But since the last several guys I've gone out with have been, well, losers, J won.
I've known J was going to ask Kristin to marry him since he first brought her home to meet us like six years ago. But then this conversation happened this past fall.
E: So, you're going to tell me before you buy her a ring, aren't you?
J: I guess.
E: You know you can't get married before me, right? You agreed.
J: You better get on it, then.
E: Noted, J. Noted. ...You're going to get married before me, aren't you?
J: Yeah.
So I wasn't all that surprised when he told me in November that he had gone ring shopping. That's right, November. He popped the question in late January. It took him freakin' forever to propose. And knowing someone is going to propose is a hard secret to keep.
But now that Kristin has the ring firmly on her finger, I can confess.
I didn't keep it a secret.
I didn't keep it a secret at all. I totally blabbed. I told everyone I knew as long as there was no chance of those people telling Kristin. I told people at work. I told a few friends. Then I told more friends. To be completely accurate, anytime someone asked me what was new, I told them my brother was going to propose.
You might say I was excited.
And that was before I saw the ring.
Ah, yes, the ring. It's beautiful. My brother did a fantastic job of picking it out by himself. After choosing it, he had it shipped to my parents' house in Louisville and it was supposed to arrive while he was here for the holidays so he could take it back to Chicago with him.
It didn't make it on time. The ring showed up a few days after my brother left. Which meant when it arrived, I got to tear into the package to check it out before I sent it back to him.
And again, now that Kristin has the ring firmly on her finger, it's time for a confession.
(Sidenote to my soon-to-be sister-in-law: Kristin, know that I love you. And please don't be mad.)
I may have tried the ring on.
I couldn't help it! It was just so sparkly and gorgeous. The shine hypnotized me. But that was the only time I tried it on. I promise.
OK, fine. I tried it on again before I mailed it back to my brother.
But that's no big deal because sisters always borrow each other's things without asking, right? I mean, I've never had a sister but I'm pretty sure that's what they do. And I didn't even borrow it per se, I just put it on. For a second. Or maybe two. Or 10.
Don't judge me.
Anyway, Kristin, welcome to the family. I'm so excited that my brother chose such a wonderful person to spend the rest of his life with. You're the best future sister-in-law anyone could ask for.
Oh, and I promise I'll never touch your jewelry again.
