A Best Friend For Life- A Brother
A sibling, a best friend.
For the first 9 years of my life I was an only child. Not because my parents weren’t attempting to give me a sibling, but because God wasn’t working on their time.
When I was just shy of my 9th birthday, my brother was born. I remember my mom being pregnant, and I remember her having issues with her sugar that would scare the hell out of me. It’s that feeling when you are a kid and your parents are sick- you automatically think they are going to die, and you’ll be an orphan. Is that just me?
I grew up living behind my great grandmother, and in front of my three cousins. Then, across the street from them was my great aunt, next to my other great grandmother, and my closest cousin, Deanna. When I say I come from a small town, I mean almost my entire family lived on Maryland, and Cecil avenue. You couldn’t cross the street without someone calling your mom. You couldn’t do anything without someone calling your mom. We had allies we cut down, and bike races that I wish I could re live every day, or at least my kids could have the same experience. The childhood I had was something I cherish. Times are much different.
My brother didn’t grow up like this though. My brother was born, and we moved. My parents were so excited to move into their own house. I remember when we looked at the house. It seemed like a dream. The rooms seemed huge; the yard was a place I could get lost. I never thought about leaving my friends, and cousins that I was used to seeing every day. It was ok though, I got to ride the school bus now. Before, my mom would drop me off, or I’d meet my cousin and walk. I literally had cousins on each ends of the street.
I lived in the time where no one really worried about you, and a phone call could track you down. If the phone call didn’t work, where are all the bikes? That was always a dead giveaway.
I remember my brother being the cutest thing in the world when he was born. My grandmother- who isn’t with us anymore- would always remind me of the first time I held him. I was sitting with my dad, and I told my little brother that I would always love him. I must have melted everyone in the rooms heart at that very moment.
A couple years go by and my brother is the most annoying person on the planet. LIKE- just leave me and my friends alone. It’s a little funny because my kids are in the same position as we were. I do truly feel for my oldest but know that my youngest loves her sister so much.
Having several years between us put a lot of different things into perspective growing up. I even remember when I moved out, my mom dropped my brother off to stay the night with me- but we would get into a fight before she left, and he would end up going home.
Somewhere along the line my brother and I became close. I feel like half of his childhood I wasn’t there, and it kind of hurts, but at the same time we were really good for making up for lost time.
A brother is a best friend for life, but sometimes it takes a few moments in life to truly understand the bond. No one has been through things in your family the way you have. No one knows how much you guys got excited for Monday night Raw, and No one can re live Christmas eve, and Christmas day the way you knew it, like you and your brother.
Age can distance you, and cause a pain you didn’t know existed, but it’s ok. Time changes, and people change. People grow, and even your baby brother has dreams, and wants a family. Your brother growing up doesn’t mean you lose him. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you. Growing pains are real. They may be a cramp in my legs my dad could always make feel better, or they could mean it’s time to start a life of your own, or their own.
Time is a really funny thing. One day you are a kid, waiting on summer to end. The next day you are an adult wondering how time has passed so quickly. You miss the people you grew up loving, and you learn how to build your adult life.
Family is the most important thing on this planet to me. My brother is one of the most important people on the planet to me. Make sure that you tell the people you love- that you love them. Do not allow anger, tempers, or a difference of opinion separate you from the people in your life. Never be too proud to say you are wrong, and never allow someone to stand in the way of your family. They weren’t there from the beginning, but they can be there from now on.
Forgiveness is important. If you are going to hold a grudge be sure you know exactly why. Never base your feelings, thoughts, or beliefs off of someone else opinions.
You get one life, and one family. Love them hard.
