Belated But Not Forgotten

My Brother's birthday was a few days ago.

Of course because I am currently running for the President of Procrastinatoria I bought cards both for him and his daughter (she turned 12 on the 11th) and then they sat on the kitchen table for weeks and still have to be written and sent. I will send them though, I didn't buy Dr. Suess stamps for nothing!

So Big Brother I am writing this post for you because you are truly awesome.

I have idolized my brother since the moment I was born. Right after I learned who my parents were I decided that they were okay but my brother was "The Awesomest" and proceeded to pester him for the first four years of my life (although I suspect he rather liked being a hero). Even during the many long years apart, when asked who my best friend was, I would proudly declare to my grammar school friends "My Big Brother." And I truly believed it--even when it was no longer cool to think of your big brother as a best friend somewhere in me I always thought of him in that category. He was the leader of my "I won't pick up the phone and call him at any hour but I know I would not get snarled at if I did" category. We even look freakishly alike, my brother and I. When people see the double frame I keep on my dresser, they ask "How come you never told me you were a twin?" And when I tell them "He's seven years older than me" these same people look at me like I'm crazy.

I don't ever get to see him, but I always know he's out there and he is the first person I think to tell things to (even though I never actually call, stupid me!) and the person I most hate being apart from.

So many people take their families for granted. Maybe it's because they got to grow up with each other and the specialness is buried under years of wedgies, name-calling, pinched cheeks and sweaters that don't fit. Maybe it's because we are so far apart and didn't get to share massive amounts of time together that I know EXACTLY how important my family is, and while years can go by without a single word being verbalized between us (life gets in the way of the best intentions), not a day goes by that my thoughts don't take some time out to focus on them.

I love you! Happy Belated Birthday!

Happy Birthday also to my Super Reading Niece! She and I spent some time playing when she was little and now she's almost a teenager! Scary! Miss Niece, while I don't ever get to the Post Office, know that not a single Birthday, Holiday or Regular Day has gone by that I haven't thought of you and wondered how you are! Don't forget my promise to you: If you want to read it, I can almost always get it :) My whole role as an Aunt is to spoil you and tell you fun stories about your Dad! Happy Birthday, I love you very much.