and impudent. marked by cocky boldness. she is immodest and saucy.

She is stripes with polka dots and dresses with Chuck Taylors.  She is little bits of scrap paper made into raffle tickets and pipe cleaners and toilet paper holders made into Leprechaun traps. 

She refuses to participate in Brit-Speak Fridays, but isn't much bothered by the rest of us who do.  She is her little brother's best friend.  And the boss of him .  She is permission slips must be turned in on time and forms must be filled out in full.  And in triplicate.

She hoards Chuck E. Cheese tickets instead of cashing them in.  She is cartwheels anywhere and wearing her brother's shoes.  She is spaghetti tacos and ribbons made into shoelaces.

She can make sparkly lip gloss with an old Carmex container, some petroleum jelly, glitter and powdered fruit punch Crystal Light drink mix.  She remembers the things I forget and probably when your birthday is.  And she knows which exit to take off the 15 to get to Nickel City. 

She is bossy .  And impudent.  Marked by cocky boldness.  She is immodest and saucy.  She is pretty sure that everyone likes her best of all.  And she is pretty much right about that most of the time. 

She is named for queens and activist first ladies.  And stolen cars.  And she is nine today. 

Happy birthday Eleanor.  You've always been one step ahead of the rest of us.  Especially me.