Happy Birthday Brother!

Today, on 10-10-10 my big brother turns the big 4-0  I cannot even describe how much I love this guy.  He was my hero when I was a little girl.  I mean whose brother is Chuck E. at Chuck E. Cheese's?  Then he was always the highlight of my birthday parties.  My girlfriends and I would always wait for him to get to my party.  As I entered my teenage years, he encouraged our parents to put me in situations where I would learn the land of "reality" - public schools, etc.  A little later in the teen years, he and Laura would take me out for late night movies and bowling.  So many memories that I cherish.

For Joe's birthday, I thought and thought about what to get him.  There are lots of memory books that you can buy that reminisce about the year you were born.  Wasn't quite what I was looking for.  So instead I filled a box FULL of candy that you just don't see these days.  Jawbreakers, wax juice containers, candy cigarettes, abba zabbas, lemon heads, pop rocks, bit-o-honey's, boston baked beans, candy necklaces and the list goes on.  (I think Sheridan and Garrett were pretty excited about this gift as well.)  Then I made a CD of music that reminds me of my big brother.  From Led Zeppelin, Guns-n-Roses, MC Hammer, Queen and a few others.  At the end of the CD is a very special song.  A song that makes me think of him.

I love you brother.  You mean so much to me.  Words just cannot describe how much I admire, appreciate and strive to be the person you are.  You are the perfect father to my niece and nephews, the most unselfish person on the planet, a kick ass husband, the king of cooking ribs and other yummy things, and you remain so calm, cool and collected during times when most would blow a fuse.  Thank you for being my friend, my protector and my brother.  I love you very, very much!

There are places I remember

All my life though some have changed

Some forever not for better

Some have gone and some remain

All these places had their moments

With lovers and friends I still can recall

Some are dead and some are living

In my life I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers

There is no compares with you

And these memories lose their meaning

With I think of love as something new

Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life I love you more

Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life I love you more