Who would have known that on that September day in 1988 I would meet the person that would someday become my hero. I remember seeing him for the first time and thinking that there was something wrong with him because he was all smushed up and had a sort of alienlike quality to him. I wouldn't dare say anything because I didn't want to upset my parents who thought he was the most beautiful baby boy on the planet...uhhh ok if you say so. And I remember thinking to myself that this little alien baby is my brother and I loved him no matter how strange he looked and I was gona take care of him forever. Well he eventually unsmushed and his head rounded out and then I began to agree that he was the most beautiful baby boy on this planet. He was so fun to play with and I loved to make him laugh, he had the most awesome baby laugh. I loved to go peek at him in his crib while he sleeped and I just couldn't wait until he woke up so I could get him out an snuggle him before anyone else could get to him. He was the best play toy a big sister could ask for. He was a ball of energy and always into something or doing something to crack me up. He didn't mind playing Barbies or baby dolls and even had one of his own (mothers of little boys I suggest you go out and buy your son a baby doll STAT!!! It will not make him gay or fruity what it will do is make him a nurturing, kind person and someday he will be the most amazing father you could ever hope for, I know mine is). He didn't mind playing dress up and loved getting his lipstick done before we went out to dinner (again not gay but it was pretty funny to see two young girls and one toddler boy lined up behind our granny waiting for her to put on our lipstick before we could go out). That crazy boy grew up to me an even crazier young man doing things that most people wouldn't even dare to think about or if they did didn't have the courage to do. He is fearless and it didn't matter how bad or good at something he was he tried it. He wasn't the best baseball player but he wanted to play baseball and did it. He wasn't the best football player but he played anyway. He never won any season championships racing but he didn't care he just went for it. There have been things in my life I wish I would have done but I was too afraid that I would be embarrassed and didn't do it and now I regret it. I always admired the way he didn't care what anyone thought of him and he just did what he wanted to do. He knew that the people that really loved him would love him no matter what and those were the only people that really mattered. I looked up to him for going away for college. He was scared and he missed home but he did it. He had that experience and he made a lot of friends and got to do things he other wise wouldn't have. I admired him and looked up to him for taking that step and just going for it. When he came home he fell in love with his now wife and they had an equally beautiful baby boy who is the light of our lives. My brother is the most amazing husband and father that I have ever known and it makes me so proud to know I had a hand in that. Then he decided he wanted to be a firefighter. I was scared to death but I couldn't have been prouder than the first time I saw him all dressed up in his fire suit...that was until today. He left this morning on his way to Ft Jackson, South Carolina for boot camp as a member of the US National Guard. Saying good bye to him this morning was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I had to let that baby boy that I swore I would always take care of go off to learn how to take care of a country. It dawned on me that the little boy I tried to protect for the past 23 years was going to be protecting all of us someday. So while I was so sad to let him go I was so proud that the sweet baby that I had held all those years ago was heading off into the world a strong, brave young man. We dreaded this day for months and now we get to start the countdown until we get to see him again. Yeah I keep crying and I probably will until the day he's home...and then I'll cry cause he's home again but I am so very proud of the man he is and can't wait to see what else this life has in store for him. I love you Bubby and God Bless the USA!!!!
Comments
Post a Comment