The Good

I strongly believe that out of bad, there can come good. And I saw it this week...

Friday, my sister Sarah had coffee with my Nurse Practitioner, Shannon. Shannon has been my NP at Children's Hospital since I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and, every three months for the past four years, I've seen either her or my endocrinologist (my favorite endocrinologist, Dr. R., however, was recently offered a job as Head of Endocrinology at another children's hospital so he'll be leaving me). My sister was meeting with Shannon this week to discuss Yale--Shannon graduated from Yale's Nurse Practitioner program and became the influence and encouragement for my sister to apply there, as well.

So, I became a diabetic >> I met Shannon >> Sarah met Shannon >> Shannon gave Sarah the courage to apply to Yale >> Sarah grew some balls, applied and was accepted. And come Fall, she's going to go through a great program that will help to make her an awesome NP one day.

Congratulations on Yale, Sarah

Yesterday, my big sister got her acceptance letter to Yale's Graduate School for Nursing! She must now choose between Ohio State (with scholarship and fellowship included), Columbia College and Yale University. No pressure.

Regardless of her ultimate choice, I am so incredibly proud of her. I shit you not, my sister has been working her ass off since middle school. She deserves this more than anyone I know. And she is going to make an amazing Nurse Practitioner.

Although...if she chooses to attend Yale, it'll be the farthest apart we've ever been. It feels like my freshman year of high school all over again--we get to spend one year together and then she's off. The eleven hours of separation (as opposed to the two blocks separating us now) scares me a little bit...but I want her to go where she will be the happiest.

When did my sister become a grown up? When did I stop calling her "my sissy" and "Sar Bear"? And, if she's an adult now, how close behind am I?