Appreciation #4

As I was talking to my mom on the phone this afternoon I was considering who my next appreciation should be. At the exact moment I was considering the many options, my mom began telling me how my brother Billy got an extreme sunburn this weekend. It was at that moment I decided this appreciation should be a shout-out to the man who is suffering from  swelling and discomfort all because he is loyal to his family (he got burnt when he went up to Big Bear to fish and help my Grandpa rebuild his cabin that burnt down). 

There are very few people I know that are as loyal and loving as my brother. Billy has been not only an amazing brother, but also a great friend. From being the baby I dragged around as my own to the teenage boy always willing to defend his older sister's honor, Billy has the definition of devotion to family. He has always been my protector, although since I have been with Kevin he hasn't had to protect me from much. 

More recently, as a young man Billy has shown me how to live life- and I bet he doesn't even know it. He has shown me that it takes courage to make decisions with your life that may be different than what is expected of you. He has shown me that it takes respect for yourself to take time to step back and analyze what you want out of life, even if that means putting your life on hold for a little while. Most importantly, he has shown me what it means to be responsible because even when there are easier roads to take to get out of the mess you are in, sometimes it is better to take the road that leads you to face the consequences of your actions, no matter how difficult that might be. No one is more proud of my brother than I am for all that he has gone through to find his path in life. I will be the loudest, most obnoxious relative at his graduation in a few years just to prove it.

So I want to thank my brother for everything. For being my protector, for being my friend, and for showing me that the most important thing in life is to live your life for no one else but you.