This little girl was the first sister to hold me as a baby. She has a masters from Harvard, but has also been known to put shampoo in the fridge. She treated me to a slice of Mario’s cheese pizza on the way home from school every day. She’s a tarheel. She gave me my first fake ID (and couldn’t keep a straight face when I accidentally told the bouncer I was from Illinois when the license I handed him said North Carolina). She is my Mom’s A-Baby. She’s writing a book that will put J.K. Rowling to shame, you just wait. She loves me the way Jules loves Travis. She’s coming home to Chicago real soon. She might be a future roommate, and she is definitely my future maid of honor. Oh yeah, and she still wears that same shirt to bed.

This little girl turned twenty-seven today. Happy birthday Alicat.