I have a pretty great family. While we're not huggers of the highest order and we don't get all touchy feely every time we talk, I think we all know we can count on each other when it really matters. I'm the youngest of my mother's five children and, as I approach my 45th birthday, I can look back on a life in which every one of my four older siblings has, at one time or another, done something extraordinary to help me out.

Oddly, it often revolves around motor vehicles. For example, three of my four siblings have lent me a car for extended periods of time (months, years even) at one point or another in my lifetime. Just as law school came to an end, Janice gave me her old Toyota Celica. Just handed me the keys and said, "Here you go."

Then, when I was just starting up my law practice and the Celica had given up the ghost, Klaas basically parked his second car, a Volvo sedan, in the driveway of our law firm and left the keys with me. He or his wife would "borrow" it from time to time but, for the most part, it was at my beck and call. And this went on for months on end.

And Michael, well, he's lent me both his Chevy Nova and, later, his Honda Civic for extended periods of time while he travelled (or was posted) overseas.

Many of us have lent money back and forth, offered each other short- and long-term places to stay and provided friendship and support in the tough times. Amazing.

As many of you know, this past year has been the toughest of times for me and my family. After a very long battle with lupus, our beloved mother passed away in April. It was a time when many families can get pulled apart. But we managed to tough it through. And stand by each other. And honour our Mom.

At the centre of all that was my sister Lynn. Just 15 months older than me, Lynn has been a rock for all of us for many years. And, in the toughest of times, she continued to be a wonderful support even as she dealt with her own loss.

I am grateful to Lynn for many things in my life (IKEA cots in bachelor apartments, pizza and the Y&R, 30 boxes of Shreddies with Star Trek toys in them, introducing me to U2, Go Gos parodies on cassette tape, the dip at the back of my head, posters, photos, giving me my first introduction to the internet, Spencer licking milk out of my cereal bowl, taking Desi when no one else would, Oregon, the Big Slice, visits to New Brunswick, Tetris in the bathroom, driving lessons on the 427 at 100 miles an hour and much more) but this past year has been especially important.

I don't need to write the details of it here. I will content myself, instead, with wishing Lynn a heartfelt and grateful Happy Birthday today. Happy Birthday, Lynn. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Tags: Lynn Walma