Happy Birthday Rick!

Let me tell you about my brother, Rick. Growing up, he was my idol. I LIVED for his approval. If he did it, I did it. If he liked it, I liked it. Together, we picked on Will. Together, we explored and played and terrorized. We were the dynamic duo.

Then came high school. He was a senior, myself a freshman. I didn't fear my first day, because I knew that Rick was out there, watching all the punks and giving them the warning glare. I was under full protection. In school he didn't talk to me much, but then again we didn't really see each other. After school, we did everything together. Most nights, he would end up falling asleep on the floor of my bedroom because we would stay up late, talking until one or both of us fell asleep. I lived for his approval.

Rick taught me how to shoot guns, how to drive, how to change a tire, how to stick up for myself but mostly, that I was awesome just the way I was.

And then the day came. I had never seen him cry. The day they came to take him away, he cried and I cried. He hugged me and told me he was going to be home soon. In fact, I am crying typing this out. I always knew Rick loved me, but when he hugged me, he hugged me like he was never going to see me again and cried. That was the first time in my life I had ever seen him cry. And it was because he hurt me. Not my mom, not my dad, not anyone in this world. Just me.

Eventually, everything cleared up. Life found a steady beat and we all went about our lives as if nothing ever happened. I went to college.

Shorlty after I started, I reached my 19th birthday. Rick and his girlfriend came up to visit me. With him was the most perfect card I have ever received. He wrote one sentence; but that one sentence has been read and re-read so many times, the edges of the card are now soft and frayed.

Now Rick lives just down the street from me. I would not have it any other way. I know that if I need anything, he will be there in a minute to help. He is the one that gives me a hug because I am crabby, tells me to stop whining, and is the only person on the face of the earth that gets away with telling me to just relax. Dad wasn't always there, but it's okay, because I always had you.



Thanks for being so awesome. I love you man.