Matthew and Melissa will celebrate their 10-year wedding anniversary in 2017 which means that they’ll celebrate their 20-year dating anniversary the following.

I remember the first time that I met Melissa.

My parents were away, and I was on break from college.  Being the conscientious person that I am, when I saw that my brother had left a textbook behind, I joyfully jumped in my silver Honda Prelude and rode across town to Toms River High School North.  After checking in at the main office, I was given a pass to deliver my brother’s book to his classroom – English with Mr. Liebe.  

Entering the doorway, Mr. Liebe looked up at me, then the book.  I said, “I’m Matt’s sister.  He forgot his book.  I’m bringing it to him.”. I felt very helpful – until the teacher retorted, “If your brother had come to class today, he may have needed it.  As he skipped – he doesn’t.  You can probably find him at the Crystal Diner.”

What?!  Matt skipped class?  I hadn’t even skipped class on Senior Cut Day!  No way, Jose!  

Knowing that Matt was probably not going to appreciate my unsolicited appearance at school, I left with my tail between my legs.  But I had to know if what his teacher had predicted was true.  Was he at the diner in lieu of class?

The answer to that was yes – I’m pretty confident no one is shocked.

Matthew, along with some friends, were crammed into a booth at the corner of Rts. 37 and 166 mid-morning.  Beside him sat a pretty, dark-haired, wide-eyed girl – who he introduced to me as “Melissa”.

That was 1998.

I was there when she graduated high school and college.  We shared a bed on each of our premarital family trips.  She drove me to the hospital during the darkest period of my life in 2011.  We’re Godmothers to each other’s children.  She threw me the best girls’ night out ever before I got married this year.  We cried during our battles with infertility – and with the news of our healthy pregnancies.  She’s held my hand as I’ve fallen apart.  We stood together as our grandparents passed away, one-by-one, and when she lost her dad.  We’ve played every board game under-the-sun – and being that she is hypercompetitive, she’s taken me at each.  

One thing that we haven’t done is share shoes.  Melissa doesn’t share shoes.

Melissa has blessed my life with so many things.  

My beautiful niece, Elle Charlie, who was born at the same time that our grandmother was dying.  GG, as we called her, only knew Elle for four months, but Elle is a spitting image of her.  The way that she relishes a good dessert and tells stories.  The way that her hair looks when she surfaces from a night’s sleep.  Her robes, her lipstick, her kind nature, and her goofy sense of humor.  

My joyous nephew, Jackson Fox, who is the apple of all of our eyes.  After more tragedy than I can bear to remember, JFL graced the world on our dad’s 60th birthday in 2015.  His smile lights up the world.  His curiosity keeps us on our toes.  His hair leaves us envious.  I look at his devilish grin and I see a concoction of my brother, Matthew, and Melissa’s father, Jack – two amazing men.

The biggest gift that Melissa has given to me, however, is her love for my brother – who comes above all others.  She stands by him and up to him, and she does both with grace.

And given her propensity not to share them, she often buys me shoes.

Aside from my husband, my now sister-in-law and I have shared the moments that will be on our “best of” list when we’re old and gray – and the moments that made us the strong, loving women that we are today.

Happy birthday, Melissa – I am blessed to call you my sister :$.