A letter to my brother
Dear manning
Fluffy… brotatochip
Did I ever tell you how much I missed you that 1 month you were gone on the Appalachian trail? Yes I took over your room, but bro I can’t tell you how excited I was when you got back home. That was only a month. Well… when I left 160 days ago (not that I’ve counted) I said “goodbye”, “see you later”, “I’ll miss you”, “don’t do anything to crazy while I’m gone.” I’m missing you and that’s been a real feeling lately. I’m missing our sibling dates, going to the movies and you buying me food. I’m missing our long sibling talks about life on the way back home, or even just us going to hang out with friends (throwback to summer of 2015 #bestsummerever.)
This whole I-miss-my-big-brother-thing It all started the day we landed in Nepal. Yes I missed you and the fam while I was in Swazi, but I was tired from travel day and one of the guys on the squad said something that made me immediately think of you. It was an “ohh! Manning would say that” kinda moment. Then there was a domino effect. I realized I hadn’t had a good conversation with you in 3 months because Swazi’s WiFi was terrible or hugged you in 3 months and I missed that. Soooo there I was chillin in Nepal, the one place on my route that you were more excited about than I was, missing you. (Its definitely a place I could see you going). A week later, I’m walking around thamel, and there’s a guy across the street with curly hair… just like yours. I took a double take I thought it was you for a minute. This is the day I was sick but went to ministry anyways cause I didn’t want to be left out. (Not my best decision but it’s okay). That was the hardest day I think I’ve had so far on the race. That was the first day I genuinely cried like a baby and wanted to come home. I wanted my bed, to be around my family, to annoy the mess out of you or even just be annoyed by you. But You know what kept me going..? Its what you told me the last time I saw you. Isabella was sniffling on the step behind me, momma and daddy couldn’t handle it and had already gotten in the car. You said “it’s not your trip! remember why you are on it and who’s it is”. I mean, you’ve been supportive from the get go But that coming from you, meant soooo freakin much to me. That’s probably the best advise you’ve ever given me. Ya know other than ‘it’s better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.’
Now on to other things. It’s been weird not having someone constantly messing with me, calling me kid or chicken baby. Be careful when I get home, yes I miss it, but I will have been away from it for 9 months so I might have no idea how to handle it. Yes we still go through those times of “we are best friends” for a month but then we can’t stand each other for 2 weeks, but that’s what makes us normal. You’re the best brother I could ask for even tho you drink all my coffee and my headphones. (Are those even alive still?)
Thank you for being the best big brother ever. Thank you for putting up with me as your tag-along for all those years. Thank you for keeping me kinda updated about stuff back home. Thank you for the blog ideas and puppy updates too. Even if the blog idea is was a tree I think this one is better.
When I get home we gotta go canoeing, hiking, to the movies, and have multiple bonfires. Ohhh and will you pleaseee buy me some zaxbys or Chick-fil-A (you know my addiction). Ohh and the horses should be ridable by then,so maybe neither of us will get bucked off of them… Hopefully.
Happy early 21st birthday. I’m sorry I’m missing this one Manning.
I planned ahead and momma has a present from me to you and you’ll get it on your birthday.
P.s. – convince momma and daddy to let me have one of your puppies tho. Just kidding… but I’m serious.
Happy early Birthday fluffy
I love and miss you
-kid (aka CG)
