Dear Bubbie, I mean big brother,

Wow. I always wanted you to be my older sister but I guess you being my big brother worked out nicely for the both of us. I'm so fortunate to have a man like you in my life. With all of the friends, and even family members, who have come and gone throughout my life, you've remained a constant. Not only are you my big brother, but you're also my bestfriend. (You can deny that I'm not yours, but let's just be honest with ourselves here). I know I like to annoy you, tell you about my boy problems, and even go out of my way to ask you to get me some tampons from the drug store (not a good idea). You always say no at first, but I bat my little sister eyes and work you the way only little sisters know how. You always come around. Hey, thanks for that.

In all seriousness, I'll never stop looking up to you. You treat me better than any big brother is suppose to treat his little sister. You have the biggest heart and always put other people before you. You're unselfish, unbelievably kind, and a hard-working young man. You exemplify all the qualities every man should have.

Life hasn't always been the easiest, but I know if I ever need someone to talk to that won't tell me what I want to hear, it's you. You tell me how it is even when I just want a sugarcoated answer or reason. But you know I deserve better, I deserve the truth, even when I don't think I do. You unintentionally and intentionally teach me and show me the greatest things life has to offer. You show me what I have to offer and what I deserve. I owe a lot of who I am to our guardians, but I also owe a lot of it to you.

So, thanks. Thanks for the laughter, annoying mom, and talking in a made-up language just to make her mad. The Christmas mornings when we'd get up at dawn to just sit and stare at our presents until it was actually time to open them. The endless amounts of phone calls shared between us and the car rides we spent listening to our favorite throwback songs. The lessons, the fights, the deaths in the family, girl/boy drama, and mostly the love a brother and sister share.

Thanks for it all.

Love sissy, or I guess your little sister.