This week was apparently National Siblings Week. Those of us with siblings know that they are truly the gift that keeps on giving; built in friends you're forced to share clothes and parents with; attention and resource thieves; or in some cases, they're actually the people you're closest with in the world.

In my case, I'm the oldest of 4 kids. My sister, Natalie, was the first on the scene, after I was born. And while I was pretty bent out of shape with her arrival, as I was only two, and didn't know why my mom went away for a while and then came back with this tiny screaming thing, I did grow to like and then even love her. Now, she's one of my favorite people in the world. She's given me awesome little nephews, and outside of being a witty and intelligent woman in her own right, she's a pretty amazing mom. So I kind of lucked out in the sister department.

Next up to bat was my brother, Pat. He's 4 years younger. Pat and I are equally pig-headed and stubborn, so when we weren't fighting the world and all the wrong it dealt us, we were fighting each other, which could get interesting at times. I think I convinced him once, purely because I didn't want to pick up the hair that was all over the floor after I'd buzzed his head, that if he didn't do it, it would somehow be absorbed into his blood stream and kill him. Don't even start to judge me! I knew my role as older sister, and all the responsibilities that came with it. Spreading scientifically incorrect information just to get younger siblings to pick up the slack is a prerequisite for someone in the top spot of the birth order. I was simply doing my job. I'm happy to say Pat turned out just fine, despite my best efforts, and is actually a pretty great human being and father.

The youngest of the Skall kids, my brother Dan, is about 6 years younger than I am. Being the baby, Dan could do no wrong. Luckily, he really never tried to. He did, however, have the unfortunate task of keeping up with 3 very rambunctious older siblings who liked to play jokes on him, all of the time. As a youngster, he had a very dry sense of humor, which didn't always gel with the ridiculous clowns the rest of us tended to be. Now, however, he has grown into one of the funniest people I know. Super smart, and also an awesome dad, he rounds out the bunch quite nicely.

As much as we used to drive each other bonkers, I am very grateful to have the siblings I do. We still have our moments, like this one that was captured on video when we were at my Grandparents Anniversary Party a few years back.

You really can't take us anywhere!

More From WBZN Old Town Maine