Maybe helping raise my sister and I kept her young. Or maybe I was just afraid of losing her. But I always told her she wasn't allowed to call herself old until she turned 80. That was the rule. Now that she's reached that milestone, I realize that the number 80 doesn't just represent her "old" age. It represents her legacy. She has spent the last 80 years living lessons, and I've spent my lifetime learning them.
Warm, winter light filled the little Chinese restaurant with its golden glow. As my family enjoyed their lunch, the sun wasn’t the only thing in the room beaming. I was deeply engaged in conversation with my parents about the upcoming science fair. I was in 8th grade, in love with everything science, and thrilled to be able to show off my knowledge at the school fair. The question of whether I would place in the competition wasn’t even a question in my mind. The actual question was where I would place: First? Second? Or maybe third?
