"Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero."
~Marc Brown
To my overprotective brother,
We may bicker, we may fight, but the one thing I know is that we would do anything for each other. Thank you for always being there for me when I need it the most. I may not say this often, if not at all, but I look up to you each and every day. I have seen the amazing person you’ve become and I want to be as amazing as you some day.
I can’t remember the earliest memory of you and I, but I have been told of those memories from Mom and Dad. They told me that when you found out you were going to be getting a little sister, you wanted to name her Lisa after Lisa from the Big Rock Candy Mountain. Thank you (Mom and Dad) for not choosing that name because I don’t think it suits my personality. Another memory from when I was little that mom and dad told me was when I fell off my bike for the first time. You ran through the house crying; Mom and Bad asked what was wrong, and you said, “Tessa fell off her bike and got a booboo.” They laughed because I didn’t know at the time that I was supposed to cry from getting hurt, but little did we know that it didn’t take long for me to learn that lesson.
We would always blame each other to get out of trouble; we still do. When I was little I pushed Dad’s books off his nightstand. I was too young to talk, but there was one word I knew how to say: howa. Dad asked who did it, and I said just that. Even today, if someone ate the last piece of cake or hid the remote we would blame each other. We would joke around when Mom or Dad would spoil one of us and not the other. We would say, "look whose the favorite child." Neither of us would get jealous; it was just another way to get each other going.
Growing up you would always make sure that you had your "minions," whether it was in school or outside of school. You knew that with you off to college and me starting my four years of high school without you would be rough. You would make sure that someone was always watching over me when you couldn't be there. They would keep you up to date with the latest details, and if something went seriously wrong they would contact you immediately, and sure enough, I would get a text or phone call from you a few seconds later. I would get annoyed and maybe even yell at you, or throw my phone at you, but I knew that you were just looking out for me. Maybe it was because you didn't want to see your little sister grow up, or wanted to make sure that she experienced everything you did better without making the same mistakes; either way, looking back all I can say is thank you.
Acting has been something you’ve done since you were little; from Lewis and Clark to Thoroughly Modern Millie, you have demonstrated how passionate you are about acting. I would attend each and every one of your shows and each time I would see how much you have progressed, from your singing to your acting, and even dancing. Your shows in college may have been some of the most outrageous, raunchy shows I’ve ever seen, but I enjoyed every moment of them. Your dream is to become an actor on Broadway, and I know that one day you will achieve it; and when that time comes, I will be sitting front and center stage. Don’t ever give up on reaching your dream because one day it will come true. Believe that you can do anything you put your mind to, but more importantly, don’t stop being you because the Howard that I know is someone who I’ve grown to know and love.
You have always had a passion for comic books, superheroes, and toy dolls, or as you would correct us, action figures. The collection of action figures you have is more than the amount of stuffed animals I had growing up. One of my favorite memories was when we were at camp and we were watching Star Wars; you would take out the exact character(s), dressed in the exact clothing during an exact scene, and act it out. Not to mention that you were in your twenties. I would laugh and think to myself, “How old are you?” But this was just one of the many reasons why I love you.
“Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero.”
You’re not just a superhero; you’re my superhero. You have swooped in and saved the day so many times I’ve lost count. You know what to say when I’m feeling down to cheer me up, you know how to annoy me in the blink of an eye (it works every time), you ask me a million questions when a boy talks to me, but most of all you love me unconditionally. Despite our differences, you will always be on my side. I may get annoyed at you when you pry too much into my life or try to spy on me (most of the time I know you are), but it’s your way of showing how much you love me. If you weren’t so overprotective, I don’t think I would be the same person I am today. You're the best brother a sister could have and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Love,
Your annoying sister
