Big Brother, Little Sister

My earliest memory of my brother growing up, who is 2 years older than me, was when I was about 3 to 4 years old, crazy huh just hear me out you’ll understand why I can remember this!

“It is like a ride at Disneyland! Just climb in and it will be fun” as he opened the dryer door and I climbed it. The door shut and it was dark, and fun, he was right it was like a ride! As I started to turn and tumble I seriously remember thinking ok this isn’t fun anymore, my back started to hurt as it hit the sides and it was getting warm.

And that’s it, that is all I remember.

The story continues with my brother going back into the house (I guess the dryer was in the garage back then) and my mom asking him where I was, he said something about garage and dryer as she bolted out to find me in and it on!!! Great ending to the story is I survived.

Throughout the years he coerced me into doing many things, including eating dog food once. I know seriously!! There were many fights, he picked on me and contstantly pestered me. We traveled in the summers in our motorhome, I was a perfect target while the parents up front with the music blaring, usually Abba, the windows down, left us unattended in the back. He would sit on me until I would do something for him. One of those trips he pinned me down and sang the whole David Bowie song White Wedding to me, I cringe everytime I hear that song.

He was my ultimate protector, my biggest ally, and someone I knew was always there if I needed anything. I cannot tell you how many times he said to me “Do as I say not as I do”. He had his own struggles. Growing up with Dyslexia was hard for him and he often chose things that were not good for him but if I even looked in that direction he was the first one there to turn me around and march me far far away from it.

His love of the ocean and surfing has kept him right on the California coast where he belongs with his dog Rocky. What a wonderful family of friends he has made there, thanks to all of you for loving my brother like family and I hope some day to meet you all.

Mike left Sunday morning he is a computer networking specialist and works for a company that contracts computer services to the Marine Corps. He will be in Afghanistan for 5 to 7 months. I am not afraid for him he will be fine, I am so proud of him! Love you Big Brother!! And remember.... "This is living!"