When I first started high school, he was a senior. I was of course terrified to enter high school. But just having his presence there was helpful. While I was MORTIFIED (or at least pretended to be) when he wore size 22 basketball shoes on that first day of school, I was always happy to have him around. The year after he graduated, he became an exchange student in the Czech Republic for a year. When he came back, he went to Ohio University. Followed by a move to Cleveland.
Noticing any similarities yet??
Yep. I also went to the Czech Republic. I also went to OU. I also moved to Cleveland. And as of Wednesday, I'll also own a house on the same street.
I never meant to follow in his footsteps. It just kind of happened. And I don't think I could be any happier that he lead the way. Lead the way to an amazing and wonderful life. I would not be the person I am today if I had not spent time in the Czech Repbulic or gone to Ohio University or moved to Cleveland.
Would I have done these things anyway if not for my brother?? Who knows. I had been pretty against becoming an exchange student until he did it and has never stopped talking about it. Would I have gone to OU? Honestly- it's pretty unlikely since I had already been accepted to a different school and was planning to go there when I returned. While I likely would have ended up in Cleveland, it definitely helped that him and his wife lived here. And now my amazing nieces.
While I suppose this post would have been better written for his birthday or something, I spent a few hours hanging out with just him yesterday while my sister-in-law was shopping, one niece was napping, and the other niece cuddled on my lap while we watched him make vegetable soup.
I'm so happy we are as close as we are today (and I only partially mean in location). He married an awesome woman who I get along with so well. His daughters are the cutest things in the world. He gets along amzingly well with my husband.
I had a good leader in life. And I couldn't be any happier about that fact!
