I watch you smile as someone hands you a copy of “Oh the Places you’ll Go.” And today that’s what every one is looking at and thinking of -- the places you will go, but I can’t help but think of all the places you’ve been.

Long before you put on your gown and were handed your diploma, we put on our tennis shoes and I handed you your helmet before mounting our bikes and playing under the warm June sun that begged us to do everything but think about the upcoming school years. Despite all our best efforts they still came anyway.

We packed in the back of Dad’s car and drove to Staples. I’m not sure who copied who, but somehow how we ended up with the same book covers, and almost identical backpacks. Sure, I couldn’t be there in class when you learned long division or about mitosis, but when we both came home, we’d pull out our books with matching book covers and instead of beginning the work we set out to do, we’d talk all about our days so much so it was like the other was sitting in class with the latter. We didn’t know it, but all that time we were making days like today harder and me so much prouder.

Long before you passed that one extremely hard final exam, you passed your drivers test. No one but yourself expected you to fail and no one less so than me. This is an example I hope you remember in your next stage of life. You will always be your hardest critic and I will always be your biggest fan.

We don’t sit at the table anymore, procrastinating work with jokes and anecdotes and yet we still know we have the security of the other person when in need. So though the friends you’ve made through the class of 2016 are strong and I hope will always have your back, remember I’ve had yours since birth.

Long before you were about to take on the world in a whole new way we took on disgusting looking spiders, mountain high roller coasters, terrifying thunderstorms that shook the house in the middle of the night and slimy green monsters we swore were hidden in the closet. At the time we were sure those were the scariest things we could encounter, just like I know you secretly think this is. I held your hand on the roller coasters, I shared my bed when the thunder rumbled and I kept the closet light on so monsters couldn’t escape. As for the spiders, well some things take a little more time than others to conquer. Never the less you are never alone because you will always have me. I can’t promise to make this or anything less scary but I will promise to be the Wade to your Kim Possible. So call me, beep me whenever you need to reach me.

Long before there were places you’d go, there were places you’d been. Your teachers and friends just saw the A’s you earned; I saw every tear and late night that made it possible. I love you more than this letter can express and I hope some day I make you as proud as you make me to call you my sibling.