Excuse me, little brother.  You have some explaining to do.

Who gave you permission to grow up?

This little boy has had me wrapped around his finger since day 1.  There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for him.  When he was a baby, he couldn’t say my name so he called me “Peppi” & then later called me “Debbie”.  My name is Sara. 

The best memories I have of my childhood seem to involve our record player.  I can remember dancing to Journey with Joey on my hip when I was twelve years old and singing the words, “You’re the meaning in my life, you’re the inspiration…”  He was the most lovable baby.  We also kicked it up a notch, played “Elvira” with the bass kickin’, and taught that little guy how to slide across the kitchen floor.  Giddy up!  Oom Pa Pa…

I wish I could share every story about Joe with all with you, but I want my brother to still like me.  So I’ll just tell you that when he was two years old, my friend & I used to make him play along with us when we made prank phone calls.  We would tell him what to say & he was happy to be a part of our shenanigans.  Sorry, Mom.  See what happens when you let your 12 year old babysit?  Shenanigans. 

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He’ll probably kill me for this one:  Before my brother grew hair on his arms and sprouted muscles everywhere, he was a bit more modest and didn’t like for anyone to see him without a shirt on.  My dad was trying to help him get ready and handed him a tank top to wear. 

“Dad, I can’t wear this!  You can see my d*ck.” 

“What?!?  Joe!!” my Dad yelled.

“Oh, I mean my chest nuts.” 

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Sitting here thinking about which stories to share is making me feel sad.  Why is that?  I want him to go to college and I want him to be successful.  I am overjoyed at this milestone, so why do I have a lump in my throat? I certainly don’t want him to be a baby again.  Lord knows I have all the baby I can handle.  It’s just that it all happened so fast… 

Long gone are the days of carrying you on my hip.  Or on my back.  Or shoulders.  But Little brother, you will never be too big to carry in my heart. 

“You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in a spirit of love.”

– Henry Drummond