In the past year I've helped pick clothes for vacations, clothes for funerals, shoes for nights on the town, and most importantly engagement and wedding rings as he was planning his future with his soon to be wife.
We've always been close and for years our mom referred to me as his second mom. When he came home for weekends during college he would spend one night at home and one night at my place. When we were little I was the translator that deciphered his baby talk and let everyone know what he was saying. When he was a baby I had to be told to stop carrying him everywhere and bringing him whatever he pointed at, because that meant there was no need for him to learn to walk. He spent his toddler years crawling in my sleeping bag as we had campouts in the living room. Years later I gave him his first drink of alcohol and there will always be memories and stories we don't share with mom and dad. I was there for his accomplishments, setbacks, heartbreaks, and now his love story.
I introduced Nick and Jenn Davis years ago when she was a model and he was a photographer. It started as a business like partnership, quickly became a friendship, and many years later, when the two of them caught up to what several of us already knew was inevitable, they began their happily ever after.
Nick has been an instrumental part of Ashley's life from the moment she was born. For years we joked he needed a shirt saying "I'm just the uncle" and she will still unapologetically tell you he's her favorite person. He's been a huge part of our little family and tomorrow he starts his own.
There may have been a few tears, but I couldn't be happier for him and his beautiful bride. And after 32 years of being his big sister, or "second mom" the lessons still the same, it's once again time for him to walk on his own, in a new direction, hand in hand with the love of his life, as they begin their own family, and continue their happily ever after.
Congratulations Nick and Jenn. Love you both!
