I’ve always looked up to you
It was so easy to do
My life is so wrapped up with you
You stayed home with me
When I was sick, you comforted me tenderly
You kept me quiet on Christmas mornings
With stories of Santa and gentle warnings
I remember late night stories on your bed
To Adventure Land you led
To a world of imagination
Your words an invitation
I read everything you gave me
A new world opened gaily
Science fiction, fantasy
Suspense, a genre tapestry
I always looked up to you
My life was so wrapped up in you
I listened to you play your flute
In your room, music took root
You gave me records that I still have
Tchaikovsky, Mozart, and Chopin
You introduced to me to culture I never would’ve had
It’s because of you, I’m who I am
You took to me to buy my first good skates
You listened all about my first dates
Listened to my teenage angst
Put up with all my juvenile pranks
You let me come and stay with you
Just what I needed; I guess you knew
It was so easy to do
Looking up to you
You bought my prom dress so I wouldn’t miss the event
Then you managed to get Mom’s consent
Always on my side it seems
You supported all my dreams
Tutored me, and never disdained
The hours, the concepts explained
You co-signed for my first credit
Trusted me, I’m forever indebted
When I went away, you took care of my dog
Every week, you read my blog
You went with me to Star Trek club meetings
Conventions, outings, and club proceedings
My entire life is intertwined with you
I am who I am because of you
All through our lives we’ve had such good times
Remember when we went to Disney and stood in those lines?
We screamed all the way down Splash Mountain
Took our picture in front of the fountain
Universal Studios was such a blast
That trip went way too fast
A Hawaiian luau, taking in the show
An earthquake, a flood, just Hollywood though
We haven’t taken a trip like that in a while
Now days, it’s more our style
Dinner and a movie on Friday nights
It’s still one of my favorite rites
It’s no wonder I look up to you
My life is so infused with you
The holidays we always share together
Thanksgiving at my house, no matter the weather
Christmas at yours, and candlelight service
The Living Christmas tree and your performance
Playing the bells on Christmas Eve
Christmas dinner, and after— a movie
Sometimes A Christmas Carol
Or we’d see The Nutcracker Ballet
In our finest apparel
A Christmas Story once again we’d replay
Our traditions are so special to me
Sisters, but friends, especially
My life is so wrapped up with you
It’s easy to look up to you
A chemist, a musician, an intellect to admire
An older sister, a height to aspire
A friend and a confidant
You went way beyond
What a sister should be
What a friend could see
I’ll always look up to you
It’s so easy to do
Because my life is wrapped up with you
And I am who I am because of you—Christina Knowles
Disturbing the Universe 
I remember you reading this in our poetry slam last year in Creative Writing. I remember how much emotion you put into reading it and now that I’ve read it again it still amazes me how wonderful you are.
I hope you’re still writing out there somewhere… because it would be a shame if the person who inspired me so much stopped doing what she loved.
Hope you’re living an extraordinary life- Kris.
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Oh, wow! You don’t know how much I needed this comment right now. I’ve been wanting to write so much, but I’ve been drowning in new responsibilities—a soul-sucking new job and a money-pit house that needs everything. Worst of all, students that are mean and won’t let me teach them anything. Kris, which Kris? If it’s who I’m thinking you are, I miss people like you so much! Oregon is fabulous, but I miss my Colorado students so much.
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I wish I could read your mind and tell you which Kris you’re thinking about. But, if I assume correctly, yeah, it’s me. Kids from other states always look oddly at outsiders. I know that from experience now. They think we’re there to change their perspectives. At least you’re still teaching. That makes me so happy to know you’re trying to change the world. Students need teachers like you, people like you make the world stop for a moment and think. I’m sure your students will come around- it is only first semester. That’s when students are the most… prick-ish. I’ve never been to Oregon. I looked at a college out there, but I don’t have good enough grades to go anywhere but PPCC. I’ve decided I’m going to be an English major, I want to write a book or become a journalist or an editor. I think I may go down the journalism path, because exposing the corrupt in companies like Walmart and Hyro (its a metal water bottle company) make me smile. You inspired me to go to college. You were so tough on me, and argued with me over everything I said about education and college! I realized education was important over the summer and it was mainly because of how you talked about it like a new hope. I hope everything turns out okay for you and I hope your house turns out to be your dream. New doors bring new opportunities- I think you said that to me. I’m not sure.
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Kris, with a K, that’s great! But you were the one giving me a hard time arguing with about everything I said!
Even more here, I realize the importance of college. It costs at least $25 (each for a couple) an hour to live modestly here, but jobs without college pay $12-18. Here, they want a college degree for everything, even fast food store manager. If I can’t take teaching anymore, which pays about $50 an hour here, then I could be a technical writer for the same money, degree required.
I love that you are going to be a writer! You are a fabulous writer, and I love the idea of exposing corruption! Maybe you could make documentaries!
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I love this one; one of my favorites in the book, and now more poignant than ever. I admire your ability to capture the most elusive sentiments of every day love.
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