My Brother

My Brother

My brother is 13 years my senior. He left for college when I was 4 and married his high school sweetheart when I was 8. Needless to say, we never “hung out”. Quite the contrary, he held almost a rock star status among our family. One of those individuals who drift in and out of your life, always making and leaving an impression. Collectively we anxiously anticipated his arrivals and dreaded his departures from home. Being the eldest child and only son, secured his lifetime position as being everyone’s favorite. Gender was not the only thing that made him different. My brother has always been somewhat private, mild-natured and quiet. These are not qualities shared by the majority of our family. No indeed, we are a great many things, but quiet and mild-natured aren’t even among the top 600 family characteristics.

My brother married, began a family and moved out of state all in what seemed a blink of the eye. I was in my 20’s before I began developing a real relationship with him. Over the past 30 years I’ve come to know him as a brother and friend, not so much a celebrity.

He is a remarkable man. One who has endured a great deal of personal pain and misfortune over the span of his life. He has faced many obstacles which would have ruined the spirit of a lesser man. Regardless of the circumstances or cards dealt, he has never faltered, never indulged in self pity, never stopped moving forward and never compromised his integrity. In fact, his compassion for others seems to have flourished with every adverse situation encountered. He sets the standard for unconditional love within our family. He is my personal hero.

My brother will be 64 in just a couple of months. I know angels walk among us and some hang around longer than others. It seems once again, I will dread his departure.