My baby brother turns 34 today and he is far away. He has many wonderful qualities but here are a few that came to mind today.
- Mark always chooses to believe the best about people. He isn't gullible; just sees the glass as half-full.
- Mark is very forgiving. Trust me. I know this.
- He applies a higher standard to himself than to others.
- He is incredibly generous. If you're wondering why he isn't filthy rich, it has a lot to do with his generosity.
- He splits meals with me when I can't choose between two things on the menu.
- He knows a lot of bad things about me but never holds them against me.
- He is so very funny. (Someday I hope to sell a collection of his letters to pay for my retirement.)
- He never misses a wedding. Which is just evidence of what a great friend he is.
6 comments:
Hi Rachelle, and I wish Mark a happy birthday, too. Looking at the photos of the 2 of you bring me many memories because your mom always sent me pictures while you were growing up. It is hard to believe Mark is 34. I am sorry I missed seeing both of you this summer.
I have thought that Kyrie looks more like Mike until I compared the young photo of you with her blog photo. Maybe it is the hair, but she looks like you.
I love to read your blogs, and I admire you for your handling of 3 children, keeping a home, working, and taking care of Mike. I am exhausted thinking of all you do in a day...and I forgot about home- schooling!
For some reason those photos make me feel extremely emotional. And this from the kid that sometimes worried his family because of his lack of emotions.
It was just you and me growing up. Surrounded by the impossibly large families of our friends. I never have regretted that it was just you and me.
I do think our parents occasionally did. If they would have had just one more kid, maybe that child would have agreed with them when a generational struggle of wills ensued. We had our rough days early on. But once you got me housebroken, it was Mark and Rachelle.
Except for on public transportation.
And OBCL (but I think you're life decisions vindicate me on that one!)
We've had some pretty good memories in the first bit of our lives. In retrospect, I even enjoyed driving you and Mike around in the Cadillac looking for a church for you to get married in. Thank goodness Peter was off work long enough to lead you to the right place.
-Continued
Reading all of the things you said really made me grateful. I can counter all the nice things you said about me with the irritations I've caused, or the qualities that you have shown that might have rubbed off just a little bit on me.
Friendship is a good example of that. Loyalty.
I think it's safe to say that "good friend" is one of the most common description used about both of us. And that's not by chance.
I remember visiting you back at PHC and running into all of the people that you had become good friends with and perhaps had helped to get through hard times. All in such a short period of time. Yet those friends have stood the test of time. I was proud to be called "Rachelle's brother" in a social circle that I used to think of as my own little sphere of influence. Things like Myrtle Beach, NYC, Monticello, GW's inauguration, I have trouble remembering independently of my sister. Travel, love of history, and spirit of adventure; I think we know where they came from. You cultivated them in me.
continued-
Thanks so much for the BD tribute. Retrospection and introspection are the initiators of a grateful heart.
I have much to be grateful for.
First of all - I loved reading your tribute to your brother, and then the things he said about you - what an awesome relationship! Almost made me cry, actually. :)
Secondly, I just noticed that you listed my blog as your "post of the week." Thank you! I'm very honored. :)
Thanks Mark. I know you love me but it was nice to read it again. You reminded me of some great memories. :)
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