Day Four of the Letter Writing Challenge

Dear Siblings,

     What a wild and crazy journey we've been on together! Growing up, I thought it was normal to have three siblings. I think it was only in high school that I met an only child. How bizarre, I thought to myself. I thought it was normal to have a designated seat at the dinner table and a designated seat in the mini-van. I also thought it was normal to know nothing but a mini-van as transportation. You would think that there being four of us, everyone would always have someone but most often, it was three against one. It's funny how quickly you learn in life that there is strength in numbers and that it's easier going along with whatever everyone else is doing. Like when you convinced us all to run away with you, Big Brother. At the time I was just following the crowd but when Mom and I visited Granddad and Grandma after that fiasco, it was ME who got reprimanded by Granddad! Good times.

     We fought a lot when we were younger; that's to be expected. We were very into wrestling, something hubby has never understood and won't do with me, no matter how much I beg! Mom and Dad often treated me as though I was in the same age group as you, even though I'm sure you beg to differ and will insist that I got special treatment.  To you all, I was still the baby and very annoying. But it was just because I wanted to be like you; I was fascinated by your "grown-up" lives. 

     Big Brother, I don't think you've had it very easy, being first born and all. Mom and Dad made most of their mistakes with you, not knowing any better. You were also the only boy, which has its advantages (i.e. you can do no wrong in Grandma's eyes!) but with only sisters I'm sure you were compared to us consciously or subconsciously, and despite what some may say, I believe boys and girls are different. I thought you were so cool. You introduced me to rock music. Nothing made me happier than when you would pay me a rare compliment or listen to me when I had something to say. You were the first to get married and started the trend of marrying young and getting our acts together. I admire your imagination (I still remember how you helped me spice up the cover of a report on drugs that I did in Grade 7) and your work ethic (once you get started, there's no stopping you). You can do anything you set your mind to.

     Malt_Soda, you were the black sheep growing up, I think we can all admit. When I look back on our childhood, I am impressed that you did what you wanted to do, liked what you wanted to like and said what you wanted to say, with little care to what others thought. You were happy-go-lucky, cheerful and goofy; so much fun! Thank you for teaching me how to read (Hop on Pop!); without that, I wouldn't have been able to write a fan letter to the New Kids on the Block at the age of 5! Thank you for all those times you helped me with my math homework. Thank you for being there for me when I was going through my depression and fears of infertility. I hope that despite the years we weren't very close, we can now have a relationship. You're a smart, sensitive and effervescent person; it's who you were and who you are.

     Little Jo, oh I am so sorry for all those years of harassing you! I don't know why it was you, maybe because you were the easiest to bug, but I still remember the utter glee I felt in poking you while in the car or goading you into a wrestling match. I'm sorry I was always in your face and snooping in your things. I wanted to be grown up like you. Thank you for always getting me out of hot water. Whenever I had a problem or whenever I messed up, you were there to fix it or clean it up. Thank you for sharing Little K with me. It was very special having that time together and being so close to my niece. I forgive you for luring hubby and I out to V-town and then moving away! :) We had some great weekends, the four of us. Thank you for teaching me so much about raising a child. You're so talented. Don't sell yourself short because you're afraid or because you think you're not that gifted.

     You're all great people and I'm proud to have you as my siblings. I know that we're different people, with different personalities, with different likes/dislikes, with different marriages and views on life. But I also know that any one of you would give me the shirt off your back if I ever needed it and that at the end of the day you and you alone will always be my brother and sisters.

Giggling Sam