Dear David,

According to Google, we are currently living 1224 km apart. And I have to say, that is further than I like. I'm looking at the pictures on my wall, photos from going to Auntie Joy's house, from hiking, from family vacations, from your graduation and Christmas, and it's hard not to think that these times that we spend all together are going to become less and less frequent as you and I continue to get older and become more independent.

But I need to make sure that you know that I don't forget you, even though I don't message you or Skype you as much as I should. You are my big brother, and that is never going to change, even when we both get busier and live more and more separate lives. Growing up, spending countless Sunday mornings playing with hot wheels cars and building things, filming funny videos together, going sledding even when the sun hadn't risen yet, finding ways to entertain ourselves on Friday nights, playing computer games together, writing together, doing music together... I could go on. When I think of growing up, I am so thankful to have had you as my older brother.

I didn't really appreciate it in the way I probably should of at the time, but you were always so patient and kind with me. You never did things to try and hurt me or make me feel bad, and you always tried to teach me things and include me in what you were learning. I so admire this about you. I can't find a malicious bone in your body. You show kindness to everybody, and genuinely want to live a life that consists of expressing love to those around you. That being said, I also know that you will stand up for the things that you believe in and you won't just go with the crowd or dismiss things if you think they are wrong or something that you don't want to be doing. Again, this is something that I found difficult to accept growing up, as I wanted you to just do things with me, but now I can see what an admirable trait this is, and one that will, and undoubtedly already has, treated you well in life.

Your passion for learning and knowledge is also something I have always admired and maybe even been a little jealous of, because I have wanted to feel so passionate about something that I am able to pour myself completely into, like you do with with your research and what you study. Even though I know that academics is something people learn first about you, I know that that just reflects a part of you, which is dedication and perseverance, as well as a genuine passion for the things you are pursuing.

There have been times where I wished that you were more like everybody else. I wanted you to want to talk to me about my friends, get protective when I have a boyfriend, to take on the older brother role and always be looking out for me. But as I have grown I have had to accept that you simply are just who you are, and that just because you don't do some of the 'normal' big brother things, it doesn't mean you care about me any less. But I wouldn't want you to change, because I know that this is how you are, and you simply show you care in different ways. And if that changed, you wouldn't be you, and I would never want that.

No matter how old you get, you will always be the kid I grew up with, the one I want at my graduation, wedding, and Christmases, the one I know I can count on to be there for me no matter what and find a way to make me feel better. I can't thank you enough for that, and I hope you know that I will always be there for you too.

Love, your little sister,

Laura