December 17, 1999. That was the day my life changed for the better. I remember I had to go to Aunt Janet's old house and spend the day with her. I remember standing outside waiting for Chip to get the bus to Sacred Heart. I remember not knowing exactly how my life was going to change. So now, seventeen years later, I'm saying thank you.

Thank you for being my best friend since day 1. Mom always says that when I was little, I'd always ask "when's Michael gonna play with me?" You were a baby, so all you did was lie there and sleep. Throughout our childhood we had countless nerf wars, explorations in the woods, and games of hide & seek, and I am grateful for it all.

Thank you for being someone I can always talk to. Whether you want to listen or not, I can always count on you to be there. From our favorite tv shows to our own personal lives, you're there for me when other people aren't, and I can't thank you enough.

Thank you for constantly annoying me throughout most of my childhood, and currently. Even though you really know how to get under my skin, it has helped me grow as a person. I'm now more tolerant of other people and am able to deal with their nonsense.

Thank you for coming into the world 17 years ago. I had an extra special little Christmas present under the tree in 1999. Without you, I wouldn't have had a close companion throughout my childhood and it would have been a lot less fun.

Thank you for making family vacation's enjoyable. Even though you're super cranky on the car ride and still go to bed somewhat early, we have some great times. Whether it's hotel mischief or a game of cornhole on the beach, I'm glad I get to share those memories with you.

Thank you for always copying me. Despite it constantly annoying me that you ALWAYS had to copy me and everything I did, I'm able to look back on it now and feel proud. I'm proud that I was able to be a role-model for you and impact your life in so many ways.

Thank you for encouraging me to do things out of my comfort zone. Sometimes, there is an idea I'm totally against and you keep begging to be able to do it. Prime example: parasailing. I was so nervous to go up in the air but I'm so happy you and dad talked me into it because it was amazing.

Thank you for being you. The one thing you should always do in life is stay true to yourself and never let anyone else change you. Bruce Lee once said, "always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it." Take this message, and try to apply it to your own life. There will be many ups and downs in your life. You will find successes while also experiencing some failures. But remember that failure is just part of life. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and you learn from your failures, which in turn help you grow as a person. I am extremely proud of the young man you are becoming and can't wait to see what the future holds for you.