Dear Brother,
You were 12 years old when I was born and I hear you fell in love with me the day I came home from the hospital. Twelve years between us really didn't feel like all that much until I really thought about it. When I was learning cursive you were going off to college. My friends in elementary school were always so confused as to why my brother could already drive. Now that I'm older I would like to thank you for a few things. Everyone thought you got to watch me grow up when I've realize we've gotten to watch each other grow up.
I want to start by saying thank you for all the entertainment. When I was very little you were in your prime teenage years doing stupid teenage boy things. I'll never forget the time when I was at the bottom of the staircase and I looked up to see one of my baby dolls flying through your legs while your shirt was stuffed with pillows to make it seem like you were giving birth. Or the time Dad shut off texting on your phone and you bribed me to go into Dad's things to find his password sheet to help you log into Verizon to turn your texting back on.
The next thing I would like to thank you for is showing me what I don't want to do. Now I won't go into details and nothing against you, but we all know you've been in trouble plenty of times. Being so young I never realized how big of an impact all those times had on me, but I'll never forget the look on Mom and Dad's faces when you really disappointed them and I tried as hard as I could to never get that look.
On the flip side of that, thank you for getting your shit together. I also got to witness how proud Mom and Dad could really be. Yes they were proud of me for things while I was growing up, but seeing them so proud of you when you got your first job and promotion is a lot different. This is a look I hope to get when I go through major milestones.
Now I don't mean to be harsh, but I want to thank you for showing me what kind of person not to bring home to Mom and Dad. I'll never forget any of your girlfriends and how concerned Mom would look after your girlfriend would leave. Don't get me wrong, they were all nice as far as I remember, but even at the age of eight I would secretly hope you guys would break up.
Now it's time for my second favorite thank you. I'm still not sure how you got so lucky, but thank you for choosing who you chose to spend forever with. When you finally brought this one home to us we were all pretty shocked. Nothing against you, but this was a very good change of pace. She was very down to earth, very pretty and seemed to be exactly what you needed. Hopefully one day Mom and Dad adore my husband the way they adore your wife. She is literally the best thing to every happen to you and don't ever forget that. I saw with my own eyes you make a complete 360 from an immature 20-something to a great role model.
Finally it's time for my favorite thank you and that is for making me an aunt. None of my friends were aunts and I couldn't believe at just 18 years old I already got to be one. You're also so lucky that your daughter looks just like me. This could be trouble for you down the road when shes 18 and I'm only 35. I'm just sayin. I'll forever be the cool aunt. Hopefully, I buy her first shot or fake ID, but we don't need to think about that right now.
Thanks for all those other things youv'e taught me like showing me I should never go to bartending school or ever get a job selling pictures door to door and my favorite one of all; I should always pay my parking and speeding tickets. I'm not saying you did or didn't do any of those things, but thank you. I love you!
Love,
Your Little Sister
