To My Baby Brother

A big sister is your first friend...and your second mother.

 

 

Dear Josh,

Today marks 27 years since my first best friend was born.  I was only 15 months old, so I'm kind of fuzzy on the details; but from looking at pictures, it seems like we hit it off straight away. 

For 27 years, you have been my partner in crime.  From climbing the kitchen table to eat crayons together as toddlers (THAT was a fun diaper for Mom, I'm sure), to sneaking through the cow pasture to swim in the pond next door as kids (It was worth the whippin' we got all the way back to the house), to covering for each other as teenagers ("I'm sure I have no IDEA what you mean, Mom...") - each adventure sealed our bond tighter.

For 27 years, I made it my job to protect you, no matter how much bigger you were than me. From punching the neighborhood bully in the manhood after he knocked you out of the tree house (I never did get in trouble for that), to using my position as Yearbook Editor in high school to pull a girl that had broken your heart out of class in order to quietly threaten her into staying away from you (I snapped her picture, waved at the teacher, and sent her skank butt back to English class...hmph!), to standing on my tiptoes so I could reach a guys chest to shove it while telling him to "back off" when y'all were fighting (sorry about that) - it was all worth it and I'd do it all again. I will never, ever stop being your champion. Again, sorry about that.

For 27 years, I have felt your pain or failures as deeply as I would my own.  There were times when my heart would stand still when the phone rang, because I was scared of what would change in my world after I answered.  I still have all of the letters you wrote me from 2007, and when I look at them, I go back in time and remember how it felt to thank God every day that I still had you.  It didn't matter how mad you made me, or how badly I wanted you to let me boss you around - I never loved you one itty-bitty ounce less.  Not. Ever.

For 27 years, I have been proud of you when you did your best, tried your hardest, and never lost your optimism or your sense of humor.  I have never been prouder of you than I am now.  You've made some of the best choices in the last few years; and I am happy just for your being happy.  You worked hard and got a good job, married a beautiful, loyal woman, and have a sweet, adorable baby girl.  You are welcome for my approval of the wife (screw this up and the rest of us are keeping her anyway...just so you know) and for all of the charm that your child (obviously) inherited from her Aunt M. 

So even though you used to blame me when you had accidents as a kid (M did it!  She peed in MY pants!), and even though you don't always let me boss you around (even though I OBVIOUSLY know everything) - I wouldn't trade you for the world.  Happy birthday, baby brother!

I will always be your big sister and I will always love you.

♥M