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An Open Letter To The Brother I Never Met

An open letter to my brother who passed away before I was born.

Hannah Burkhart

Aug 27, 2018

Ohio University

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An Open Letter To The Brother I Never Met

Dear Jason,

Every year on February 23rd, our mother tears herself apart thinking about losing you to SIDS on that day in 1988. I hope she knows that your passing was out of her control. Although I never had the chance to meet you, I feel like I know you. Our mother's tears bring me to tears as well. In the pictures of you that I have seen, I see so much of our mother in you.

Our mother did not think that she would be able to have any more children after SIDS took you away. However, her faith made it possible for her to have not only one, but two more babies. Nine years after losing you, our mother was blessed with our brother Joseph. As I look at baby pictures of the two of you, I see a strong resemblance. Two years after Joe was born, I came along. Mom told me that I shot out like a baseball. She monitored our brother and me a little extra as we slept. She put shoes on our feet with matching outfits every day when we were only infants. She has done everything in her power to make us as happy, healthy, and motivated as possible. Now, we are both in college beginning our journey of leading successful lives.

I always catch myself wondering about you.

What would you look like now? Where would you live? What would your job be? Would we look alike? Would I be an aunt? My life would be so much different if I had a 31-year-old brother.

I know that up in Heaven, you are watching over our brother and me. I know you were at my high school graduation, and I know you will be at my wedding, so please do not feel guilty for not being there in person. It makes me incredibly sad that you did not live to experience these milestones in your own life, but I know that with a mother like ours, your two months of life were priceless. I just want you to know that you are not forgotten and that in your short life, you touched the lives of many people, including those who had never met you in person. I love you, big brother. I know that you are up there, wishing that you could give me advice, protect me from getting my heart broken by boys, and hug me when you are proud of me.

Always in my heart,

Hannah Noel

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An Open Letter To The Brother I Never Met

An open letter to my brother who passed away before I was born.

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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