1) You encourage my flexibility (twisting infant feet/various wrestling moves)
2) You cultivate clear communication (Cowels)
3) You sharpen my reflexes (lurking in dark corners)
4) You increased my lung capacity (surviving S.B.D.’s)
5) You fiercely protect (Psst, guys sometimes talk to me now. Sometimes.)
6) If I want an honest answer, you’ll give me one.
7) If I need a cheerleader, you’ll cheer.
8) If, as part of the cheer, I ask for a split jump, you will.
9) If I need to laugh you will say just the right, slightly stupid thing.
10) If I need a hug but don’t want to ask for one you will find a way to make it look like it was your idea.
11) I count on you for stimulating and thought provoking conversation — you always give me a doozy of a question to ponder.
12) I count on you to eat the extra fudge from my Grasshopper Pie (regardless of if I ask you to or not).
13) I count on you to remember details from our childhood like you count on me to remember how we got, “wherever the he– we are!”
14) I count on you to draw out my competitive side.
15) I count on you to be a key sounding board when there are big decisions to be made.
16) You show me what it looks like to be humble in ones good looks.
17) You show me how to procrastinate, rally and succeed!
18) You show me that, in life, some are just naturally brilliant.
19) You show me that a white boy can dance!
20) You show me what determination looks like in action.
21) I hope someday I will read and retain as much as you do.
22) I hope someday I will practice patience with my kids like you do yours.
23) I hope someday I will be as raw and as real with God as you are.
24) I hope someday I will marry someone who is also willing set his ego aside, call his sister in the middle of the night, ask her to go over two stepping, again, via the phone so he can surprise his bride with new moves at the concert he doesn’t want to go to but knows it will mean the world to her.
25) I hope someday I can afford to give you all the necessary joint replacements that a life lived require.
26) Because you are a softy in a hard shell too.
27) Because you are far more creative than you let on.
28) Because you are an adventurer at heart.
29) Because you are quick and witty and just plan silly.
30) Because everyone needs that one person they can’t beat at Indian Leg Wrestling.
31) I celebrate the older brother who was often the reason for my fright but would also tuck his thumb-sucking lil'sis under his arm and tell her it would be okay.
32) I celebrate the older brother who could always beat me down the mountain but would let me win, from time to time, in order to shower me with a snowy hockey stop.
33) I celebrate the older brother who "said" horses were dumb and field hockey dumber but still knew if I did well at a show and would bring a bunch of seniors to cheer on a freshman game!
34) I celebrate the older brother that invited me out to his college graduation parties and flew cross-country to make mine.
35) I celebrate the older brother who listened until his ears bled to a little sister trying hard to make it in the corporate world. Who reminded her time and time again that she absolutely had something to offer!
36) I celebrate the older brother who didn’t want to see me go but encouraged me to follow the call, spread my wings and fly around the world.
Brother, I hate not being there to celebrate you in person but celebrate you I do, Happy Birthday!
Your little sis loves you.
