I must be getting old.

[alliancesjr]

My baby sister is now seventeen. She is applying to colleges.

It's extremely sobering to think this. My parents now technically have four adult children (officially will next year), two of which are sight-unseen. They will be empty-nesters soon.

Even more sobering is that my baby sister is seventeen. I remember very clearly when she came home the first time, and I've changed her diapers and prepared her baby food and read to her and sang to her and where the fuck did all the time go.

What's even worse is that she's dating. Well, not right this second, but she's had at least one boyfriend thus far, and she drives and plays awesome music and is in a band, my sister is in a band you guys, I am going to head to the youth center next month to catch their first gig. And Trekkiegirl claims she is "a knockout", which what the hell.

Although, I suppose I shouldn't be complaining. I'm still teaching her awesome things. I got her interested in 90s punk, ska, and alternative - even if she calls it "retro" - and she's slowly but surely warming to the movies and books that I keep trying to get her interested in. I'm taking her to see Ghostbusters when it comes back to theaters this Thursday, and she's never seen it before. For a first time viewing, what better than in a packed theater? I mean, I still remember seeing Star Wars for the first time when it was re-released in 1997, and that's an experience I wouldn't trade for the world.

It's still pretty mind-boggling, to say the least. My baby sister is someone I can have extended, intelligent conversations and debates with, and I'm not denying how much I enjoy this fact, even when I decry its credibility.

That said, she told me today the choices in albums she picked out with her gift cards from her birthday, and I was chagrined to realize that I didn't recognize either of the bands' names. I'm getting too old for this - though in my defense, she is very much into the indie and local music scene.

@alliancesjr: And now she's offering to burn me a CD, which is at once incredibly sweet of her and horrific mocking. I have nothing left to teach her.
@alliancesjr: (I am so proud of her.)

Comments

[greyduck.livejournal.com]

Pfft, old, whatever.

My youngest child, my baby girl daughter type person, turned 18 a couple of weeks ago.

I feel old, man.

[strannik01.livejournal.com]

As an older brother to a now-20-year-old young woman, I can relate to a lot of what you wrote. And it's only going to get worse from there. Worse and better. She will always be the "little sister" on some level, but watching someone who you've literally known since birth grow into a mature, fully realized human being is an amazing experience. Amazing and humbling.

It sounds like you were a good big brother to her. You have a lot to be proud of.

[icysnowgirl.livejournal.com]

I've been having similar reactions and experiences with my little brother. It's so strange.

[skybreak-seeker.livejournal.com]

Your sister seems like a pretty hoopty frood, from the little time I've talked to her. And Trekkiegirl is known for her accurate assessments RE: relative knockout-itude.

What instrument does your sister play, anyway?

Also? MY THEATER ISN'T SHOWING GHOSTBUSTERS WHAT THE GODDAMN HELL SERIOUSLY THIS IS BULLSHIT.

[alliancesjr.livejournal.com]

Clarinet, initially, then she got a ukulele for Christmas and learned to play that. She's since taken guitar lessons from Terry Gries (you met her, she was the one who rode with my parents) and taught herself piano.

At some point she also learned accordian, I have no idea.

[darilyn.livejournal.com]

I have two older brothers myself. The middle brother is pretty detached from the family, and the oldest brother and I have a similar relationship to what you've described.