To My Goon, My Bud, My Best Friend,
After over six years of friendship, there's not much I can say except thank you. You have given me the opportunity to understand what it is like to have an older brother in my life, and for that, I am forever grateful.
Thank you for showing me what it truly means to drop everything for your friends. I am not sure if you realize how much I treasure all of those texts, calls, car rides, movie nights, bonfires, etc. Don't think I have forgotten about all that you have done for me. You helped me pick out acceptable first-date outfits. You gave me important guy advice, and even when I didn't always listen, you calmly listened to me. You then gave me more guy advice without succumbing to the need to tell me, "I told you so." You acted as my body guard. You were my partner in crime and fellow secret agent when my phone number got into the wrong hands. You were my chauffeur before I got my license. You proceeded to teach me how to drive stick after I got my license. You encouraged me when the pressures of school, work and life began to overwhelm me. You were my financial adviser when I finally decided to take on this whole adult-life, which included getting my own bank account and credit card. You were my IT guy when my laptop crashed and I needed to finish the papers I procrastinated on. You were the first person I called when some idiot ran into my car and left the scene.
Most importantly, you are the one guy, and one of the few people, I can literally tell anything to without feeling judged or embarrassed. When we all decide to feast on diner food and then frozen yogurt, you don't care if I eat just as much or more than you. In fact, you know me so well that you expect it. You expect me to make a fool of myself. You expect me to crack up at my own jokes, which aren't even funny. You expect me to make stupid comments. You expect me to laugh so hard that I might need to change my pants. Yet, here we are. Six years later, I still have the honor of calling you my best friend and older brother.
As much as I will always appreciate the country concerts and everyday outings, there is one main thing that I will never forget. I believe it was after another summer night Sonic run in your Jeep. It was late, and and I was already in bed. I got a text from you. I may not remember the exact wording, but you told me that it was good to see me truly happy again. You were right, as usual. Sure, when we would all go out, I would plaster on a smile. However, deep down, I was struggling. I would distance myself from people. I had experienced too much loss, and I was not sure if I could allow myself to become vulnerable again. No one noticed. Maybe my acting skills were on point, or maybe people didn't care. You did, though. You saw that I was not truly me. I had created a facade to mask my own emotions. You saw beyond that masquerade and weren't afraid to talk to me about it.
Society tends to focus on the need for a girl to have a close group of girl friends who she can eat pizza, talk about boys, vent and go shopping with. Now don't get me wrong, those things can be fun, and I love my girl friends dearly, but you have taught me the importance of seeing life from varying viewpoints. You are not afraid to state the commonly misinterpreted male point of view, and sometimes that is exactly what I need to hear. You are the blunt, honest truth in a world filled with sugar-coated fabrications.
So once again, thank you. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for letting me know it's OK to be myself and act like one of the guys sometimes. Thank you for always lending a hand. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for being the older brother I always wanted and have finally got.
