Happy Birthday Big Little Bro

It's my brother's birthday today.  I don't know if I've ever told you, but I have two awesome younger brothers.  Today is the brithday of the oldest of the two brother.  There are less than three years in age difference between us, but I can't remember a time in my life when he wasn't around.  He was my first playmate as a child and he has a fantastic imagination.  In fact, I think he's the reason that I have as good as an imagination as I do.  Growing up, we'd flip over the coffee table and pretend it was a boat floating down a  raging river.  When Mom and Dad were elsewhere, we walk across the furniture, pretending the floor was lava (like every cool kid ever did).  We played with Matchbox cars and shot green plastic army men with rubber bands.  Together, we explored the Smokey Mountains and Disney World together.  He took me on my first camping trip to Red River Gorge. (To this day, I believe he is the reason that I've never managed to pitch a tent in daylight).

My Big Little Bro has always been my protector.  When my house was broken into, he was there before the police arrived and he was ready to charge in without a moment's hesitation.  He's answered every car question I've ever had with amazing patience.  He also is a Drake firebug.  I think the need to see things burn is a genetic trait.  I've seen it all through the Drake family, and my brothers are no exception.  The combination of my brother's wonderful imagination with his mechanical knowledge has resulted in some amazing Fourth of July firework displays. 

My brother has a wicked sense of humor.  He has an uncanny ability to tell a story and leave me wiping tears from my eyes.  He has made me laugh when I felt sure that I would never be able to laugh again and I can't thank him enough for that wonderful gift.  That alone has surely prolonged my life by years. 

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss him and his patented smirky grin.

Happy Birthday, dear brother of mine.  I wish you a good year filled with laughter and love.  I don't know when I'll see you again.  It'll never be soon enough, but just know that your big sister is always there for you.

Happy Birthday!  I love you.