Growing up, my older brother (Evan) and sister (Katie) were my best friends and arch-nemeses. In the winter, we would stay inside and play video games (we only had two remotes at the time, so I was always the one watching). In the summer we would ride our bikes around the neighborhood and go to the pool with my mom and dad. It was just us three for about six- and-a-half years when my parents adopted my little brother, Alex, from Romania when he was four years old.
So then there were four. Upon the arrival of my little brother, we were all so excited and couldn’t believe we had been fortunate enough to adopt him from a country in need. We adored him from the start. Looking back, it was amazing to be able to watch someone who we would grow to love so much. Someone who didn’t know any English, assimilate into a culture so different from what he had previously known. My older siblings and I lived to teach Alex new things, and to learn from him. Those first few years of his life in America were so impactful on all of our lives. Of course we did butt heads, but he didn’t understand that I was upset I wasn’t the baby anymore. Once I got over that speed bump in our relationship—I believe my exact words were, “Send him back"— (I was only 6, give me a break), we became fast friends.
I've been lucky enough to go to college in my hometown. As a result, I reap all the benefits: Sunday brunch/ dinners, always having my car (don’t get too excited, it’s so I can work), my dad doing my laundry (trust me, he enjoys it), and of course being with my family when I want. There was even a point in time where Evan and I were in college together— those were the best days, when we’d stumble (literally) into each other at the bar.
When I hear about my friends being so far away from home, I of course think, “that’s so cool they don’t have to see people they went to high school with!” But immediately after I think about all the times I’ve driven to my sister's house on the weekends, how I was there for her during her wedding planning because we were in the same town. Currently, I'm in New York City and Evan is in San Francisco. Ironically, I've never felt closer to my siblings. Between group chats and Facetimes, we're always in contact. I hear about the good, the bad, the annoying and the joyful events in my siblings lives because we are all willing to reach out to each other. Long distance relationships with your siblings are crucial and can be hard, but it is always worth putting in the extra time.
Evan and I are able to keep up with Alex’s dream career of selling cars via his Facebook updates, and we keep up with Katie’s updates via her love of double-texting. And after Evan’s previous job at Facebook, we usually keep in contact via Facebook Chat (cliché, we know). Although there is a time difference, the Bonnstetter siblings are now bi-costal, but the bond cannot be broken.
Photo Credit: http://everydayfeminism.com/2013/12/healthy-long-d...
