My little brother

This visit back to my hometown this past week has been an opportunity to get to know my brother. As kids, we experienced childhood through very different perspectives and had our own “lenses” that we used to view our world. He was “the kid” I was not very nice to. That is how I remembered it. I vented silent rage from my head at him and all he wanted to do is have a relationship with his big sister. I was not the best big sister to my little brother. I was sad a lot and he was cracking jokes. I was the kid with my nose in the books and he was bribing the teacher to cut detention. I was the pleaser who wanted medical school so bad I missed most of my early twenties due to organic chemistry, and he was the student asking “Why should I?”

I saw Bill Friday afternoon and saw him for the man that he is. He is a loving man, a fantastic father, a wonderful husband and a funny little brother. I do not like to live my life looking back at regrets, but for a good portion of today, I wished I would have sat next to my brother in a class in high school and soaked up his sense of humor and his compassion for others. I had the pleasure of sitting with him for most of the day today and never stopped laughing. I never stopped smiling when I was in his presence. He is a great “little brother,” and finally as adults, we realize that we are way more alike than either of us ever realized.