first, last & best friends

I say it often, but I feel that it's necessary: I love my brothers more than life itself.

It could be because I'm the oldest or the only girl (well, until my beautiful sister married into our family), but they are absolutely, completely amazing. I love every moment that I spend with them, and I always feel that I walk away a better person because of them. I always say that I'm grateful to my parents for allowing us to have the relationship that we do. It's never been me and them, boys vs. girl. Never. Just us.

I was thinking about this today because the little one and I went out to see "Sindarin" wrestle. Our brother is a semi-pro wrestler. He amazes me. I'm proud of the way that he's gone after his dream and how hard he works for it.

It was funny tonight though because I had difficult with it. At one point I had to completely turn around and there were tears in my eyes because it's really hard for me to see my little brother get thrown around a ring, especially by someone who is so much bigger than him. But he turned it around and I ended up on my feet, screaming for him. I know it had to be quite a spectacle.

I also thought about how protective I am. There was genuine anger rising up inside me as some random guy in the stands was cheering against my brother. I said to the little one that I wanted to get someone to beat him up. I say that jokingly, of course, but it made me think about how angry I get when anyone says or does anything to hurt my brothers, and there have been plenty of experiences like that in my life time.

I think that I sometimes tend to believe that this tie, this relationship, is unique to me and each of the boys individually, but really it's not, When we were all back at my parents house, I listened to the two boys talk in the other room. They were going over Sindarin's fight and what the little one thought were the strengths and weaknesses. It was nice to hear. I know they have plenty of opportunity to fight, and they do from time to time. Arguments only. It's nice to know that they're friends first.

I read and loved an article in Time a year or so ago about how siblings are the closest human relationships that exist. So true. So very true. And I am deeply appreciative of the ones that I have.