Homes,

There are a countless number of things I could write about, and maybe some of those shouldn't be recognized on a public forum, but who cares. Here are just a few of the reasons why I love you.

You came back

I think we were in the seventh grade when we had a sleepover for the first time. That was the night we discovered "tequila really does make your clothes fall off" after seeing my mother outside in the pool with her friends. But you know what, you came back, and that says a lot. In fact, you didn't "come back"... you never left. You have always stood right beside me in everything that I have accomplished and failed.

You were always my "get away"

When things turned bad at home, your door was always open. After time, my coming over became so normal that your family would literally ask where I was. You never cared one bit if I drank all of your sweet tea, or if I would rut up the yard with my car. You didn't mind sharing your parents with me, or your sister with me. You didn't care if I popped Remmy on the butt for scratching my leg. Your family was my family, and you loved me more for it.

You gave me life

I have always been the friend who was like a mother. The one who made sure everyone was taken care of, and watching to make sure no one was doing hood-rat things. "You better not be drinking and driving" , "you better not get pregnant or I am going to kill you", and "you better not let that boy control your life, because YOU ARE YOUR OWN PERSON!" are some of my most well known lines from high school. Even after being so uptight, you still managed to be the only person who helped me loosen up. From dancing like crazy folks in the middle of Walmart, to driving Oliver (my car) through the muddiest road in town, making it through both proms, and surviving the floor tiles going missing, you have given me so much more life than I ever would have experienced had you not came into it.

Then we graduated

I will admit, the thought of losing you was the scariest part of graduation. We went everyday seeing each other to not seeing each other at all in the matter of two days. Picking you up on the last day of school, and dropping you off at home after that last bell rang was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I didn't cry during my speech, and I didn't cry on graduation day, but I am crying now. I am crying because I cried the last day of school after leaving you behind. I wouldn't be able live my life without you being some part of it, and I was determined to give you a place. You are the best person I have ever known. You are selfless, caring, honest, beautiful, and so strong. I strive to be someone with such great character like you each day. I believe our friendship now is stronger than it has ever been.

You are the best mother

After hearing the news, I bursted into tears, and my whole body instantly filled with emotions. I am thankful to have been able to be that friend you needed from the start, and I will be here until the finish. I believe that 32 hours of waiting in the hospital was the longest 32 hours of my life. Hearing you scream, watching you cry, seeing those monitors move up and down without being able to do anything for you nearly made me go insane, but YOU DID IT! You may be young, but your precious baby boy isn't stopping you from anything. I am SO proud of you for EVERYTHING. Luke is the most precious gift in this world, and I am so grateful to be a part of his life and yours.

Thank you

Thank you for lifting me up when I couldn't stand on my own.

Thank you for always having my back, even when no one else did.

Thank you for giving me a nephew, because I will never have my own.

Thank you for listening to all of my complaints, and wiping away my tears when I cry.

Thank you for being such an amazing role model.

Thank you for loving me unconditionally.

Thank you for being my sister.

And most of all, thank you for coming back.

I will leave you with this

"You know I'd fall apart without you. I don't know how you do what you do. 'Cause everything that don't make sense about me, make sense when I'm with you."

(You can finish it out)

Love always,

Gus