Happy Birthday, Becki Manning Dannelly: A Taurus, a Diamond and a Lifetime of Memories!

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Today is a day unlike any other—it’s a celebration of my sister, one of my childhood heroes, my partner in countless adventures. Becki Manning Dannelly turns 55 today and I can’t let this milestone pass without honoring the incredible person she is.

Let’s start with the obvious: Becki doesn’t look a day over 35. Maybe 36. Our youthful appearance must be genetic—though I think it also comes from the way we live our lives. We embrace what we love, refuse to stress over the uncontrollable and share plenty of laughs along the way.
Her birthstone, the diamond, is a perfect metaphor for Becki: a symbol of love, strength and timeless beauty. And as a Taurus, she’s every bit as loyal, determined and yes, stubborn as you might expect, just like our daddy. She cherishes security, stability and her connection to the physical world—qualities that ground and inspire everyone around her.

Becki’s impact on my life goes far beyond her stellar horoscope. Growing up, she was my protector, my teacher and my co-conspirator. When I was just a little boy, she stood up to a bully who was stealing my lunch money on the bus. The school gave her a choice—three days of bus suspension or paddling. Ever practical, my parents made the call (no way were they driving her to school for three days) and Becki bravely took the paddling in my defense.

And then there’s the time she gave four-year-old me my first taste of Jack Daniels. Realizing the smell might give her away, she had me mask it with Lemon Joy dish soap. Naturally, this led to me foaming at the mouth with an attempt at covering the effects of giving me milk to absorb the dishwashing liquid after a frantic call to poison control. Becki’s quick thinking may not have been foolproof, but it certainly made for a story we’ll never forget.

Becki also taught me to ride a bike after my first attempt ended in me crashing into a tree when Dad “let go” of the seat. She patiently held onto my bike until I was ready to ride on my own—though that newfound freedom was short-lived after Becki convinced me to break Mama’s rules and ride around the block. I came home to a very upset Mama and while I got a beating for breaking the rules, Becki got one too for putting me up to it.

Our sibling adventures were as unpredictable as they were unforgettable. When my mom went into labor with me, Becki’s legendary Taurus stubbornness showed up in full force—she refused to leave the house until her Mickey Mouse Club episode ended. Upon meeting me for the first time, she declared she would’ve preferred a goat. To be fair, I did develop some unusual habits as a child—like chewing on glass, Lincoln Logs and the Tupperware tumblers I was given after the family realized I could not be trusted with glassware. But Becki took it all in stride, balancing her role as a sibling with patience, humor and the occasional tattling session.

Becki has literally saved my life more than once. My overly enthusiastic approach to water often led to risky situations, but Becki was always there to pull me out. Her swimming skills were unmatched—unlike mine, which to this day leave much to be desired.

When our parents split up, Becki stepped up in a big way and took me in. Despite my rebellious streak at the time, she showed me love, strength and stability when I needed it most. Even now, though we live 300 miles apart, I still see her as my rock and my guardian.

Becki, you’re so much more than a sister. You’ve shaped my life in immeasurable ways, from teaching me how to navigate life (and carnival thrill rides) to sharing laughs, lessons and love along the way.
On this special day, I hope you feel celebrated for the amazing person you are. To everyone reading, I’d love to hear your comments, stories and favorite memories of Becki, if you know her. And if you’d like to join in her celebration with kind words and fond recollections, your thoughtfulness would mean the world to her (and to me).

Here’s to 55 wonderful years of Becki Manning Dannelly—the rough and tough diamond of our family—and many more adventures ahead. Cheers to you, Becki!


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