Torrie and I are two years apart to the month and I hate to admit it, but we haven't always gotten along {that was an understatement at times}. We get along much better now that we are a little older, and although she was my maid of honor in my wedding, we still aren't super close.
Now that I am about to have two girls in my house, I have been reflecting on the sister dynamic and I have to say I am sorry to my sister for not being the loving, supportive, protective sister I should have been. It is important for me to teach my girls to love each other, respect each other and treat each other with care...because sisters really are the built in best friend that God picked for you!!!
Although it has taken way too long, I believe it really is never too late to start. So here I go...
It is finally time for me to publicly say what I have felt all along, but was too egotistical to say...I AM PROUD OF MY SISTER TORRIE!!!
When we were in late elementary school Torrie made the A team for All-Stars in softball and I made the B team. Torrie hit back to back home runs that summer over a fence that was about 200 feet deep. The last time someone had done that was a man like 15 years before...Torrie was in 5th grade. I acted like it was no big deal in front of her because I was bummed I hadn't even gotten on base that tournament {I was lousy at softball}, but inside I was beaming and so proud of her, but I didn't say it.
In high school Torrie made varsity field hockey as a freshman {I had too, but now I was a junior and too cool for my little sister}. I was TICKED when we told her to carry the ball bucket and she said no and the coach made all of us get them {my freshman and sophomore years we had a standing tradition that the youngest carried all the equipment...It was like a right of passage. Then my junior year we got a new coach who wanted us to all carry our weight. That didn't set to well with most of us, but Torrie loved it}. Let's just say on more than one occasion we got into screaming matches before practice {Torrie wasn't the best at remembering her equipment, but I always had extras so she expected me to share} during practice {I always thought she was slacking off or doggin' it} and after practice {I drove us home in my sweet La Bomba}.
The thing was, I could yell at her and be so angry with her, but NO ONE else had better treat her like that.
Once, Torrie and I both scored goals in a game and the report in the newspaper the next day said, "Morgan is a workhorse and Torrie is just plain good!" I was so mad. Basically I had to work hard to be decent at sports and Torrie could just show up and it was so easy for her. But deep down, I was always so proud that she was my sister and boy was I glad she was on my team!
When Torrie was getting ready to go to college, my coach at Indiana said, "hey I was thinking of recruiting your sister." I told her I would quit before playing with her again. That was pretty harsh, but I didn't want to live in her shadow again.
Torrie's senior year of college she lead the country...the WHOLE COUNTRY...in goals scored. Phil and I went to watch her play in the NCAA qualifier at Michigan and I was walking our dog behind the bleachers when I heard some coaches talking about her. My ears perked up when I heard, "#24, isn't she the one leading the nation in goals and she plays for a MAC team. That is crazy, she has a wicked shot, I wouldn't be caught dead in front of her strike." I think my chest actually swelled out a little bit. I wanted to walk over and say, "yeah, that's my sister, no big deal!"
After Torrie graduated college she had this goal of trying out for the Olympic team and I thought it was a little far fetched, but didn't really think much of it. Then the week before she was supposed to try out she tore her ACL and MCL. When she said she was going to rehab and try out the next year I actually thought it was a bad idea. I thought she should move on, get a job, move out of mom and dad's...etc.
But she did try out...and she made the development squad...then they bumped her to the National Team...while I was happy for her {kind of} I still thought she needed a real job, what if this doesn't pan out.
Then she came to visit me last October and I saw something in her I had NEVER seen before. I saw commitment. This girl was on the strictest diet, she worked out and ran everyday while she was visiting. You might think, well duh, isn't that what a prospective Olympian does...but you don't know my sister.
Her senior year of high school she quit softball mid season {something that was NOT allowed in my home, but there was very good reason in which my parents supported her quiting}. She walked onto the track field that same day, picked up a shot put and in her tennis shoes threw a school record. She had no training, not even the right shoes. She went to state and placed 9th...in tennis shoes.
That is exactly why I was so shocked when my sister was SO committed to this Olympic thing. She had always been the best without hardly working at it at all. Now she was telling me how she is learning so much and the girls she was playing with were so much better than her and she was just eating up all that she was learning. She said she didn't even really care if I made it to the Olympics because she was getting so much better.
From that day on, I wanted her to make it. I think I wanted it even more than she did. I was so proud of the growth I saw in her and her dedication and passion. She was putting together everything that God had given her and maxing out her potential.
Even though I know I will be having a baby a month {hopefully a full month} before the Olympics begin in London...If Torrie makes it I will be there...in London...with 2 kids...Front and center...cheering on my little sister.
And even if she doesn't make it this year, I still want her and everyone else to know that I am proud of Torrie...Not just for her accomplishments on the field, but because of who she is as a Christian, friend, cook, woodworker, writer and sister. I am proud that my girls have her as a role model. And I am proud to say she is MY little sister!!!
Check out this article about her from the San Diego newspaper:
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/feb/12/albini-may-be-home-ing-olympic-spot/
Good luck in Spain this month and know that your biggest fans are here in Indiana cheering you on!!!
p.s. if you want a good laugh, read her blog and get to know her better...
http://torriesscramble.blogspot.com/
So super sweet Morgan!
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