An Open Letter to My Big Brother

I don't say it enough but I love you. You have been my biggest role model since day one. Whenever I didn't know what to do I would look to you. You have always been my best friend, protector and favorite comedian. I couldn't imagine life without you.

Actually I have thought about what life would be like without you and it scares me to death. A professor asked me once, "What is your biggest fear?" The first thing that popped into my head was, "lose my brother." That's my biggest fear ever. Since I was little you have always been my favorite person in the world.

Every day I worry a little more about where our lives will take us. We both are growing up and you're working an actual adult person job and I'm starting to close in on the end of my college career. My next biggest fear is that we will be distanced once we are finally both "adulting." I don't want to be the type of siblings that talk every so often at holiday dinners.

For now we won't worry about that. For now I just need to thank you for a couple things.

Thank you for being the first person to always have my back. You wouldn't hesitate to stand up for me when it was needed. But, you knew when it was a good time to let me fight my own battles. It taught me a lot. I learned a lot from watching your actions. That usually meant I knew what I could probably get away with and what I certainly wouldn't get away with. So thanks for being the family guinea pig.

Thank you for knowing just what to say when those stupid boys broke my heart. Most brothers would avoid a crying little sister like the plague. Not you. You were the first one to text me or call me and say, "Karles! Never liked him anyway." With saying that, thank you for letting me date the not good guys and not being too protective. I needed to learn those lessons.

Thank you for keeping me laughing every single time we are together. I mean I can't think of time we actually don't end up laughing like crazy. Even when maybe laughing wasn't the most appropriate thing.

Lastly, I just want to thank you for being the best friend I could have. I love you bubba. I'm lucky to have a role model like you in my life.