New Beginnings

My baby brother moved in with me in January when he graduated from college.  He didn't want to get tied into a lease because he had lofty goals of getting a job out of state.  It's been a joy having him around.  He makes a wonderful roommate; incredibly considerate and helpful around the house.  He has even been a great sounding board on days that have tried my patience.  

I have leaned on him during times of struggles, and he has leaned back when he has been at his w it's end in terms of his job searching.  His patience was wearing thin as letter after letter came in the mail declining him a position and wishing him luck in his search.  He would get excited when he would get phone calls for interviews.  Only to have his hopes dashed shortly after when he would get that infamous letter in the mailbox again.  Then it happened.  He was offered a position with the Minnesota Vikings to work on their film crew.  

I'm so happy for him.  I had encouraged him not to give up or settle; and he didn't. This job will further promote his skills in the field he truly wants to enter into; sports and film.  Ultimately he would like to work for a company like ESPN, and he is one step closer today than he was yesterday.

In the midst of my excitement for him, I've already begun to count the ways I will miss him.  I introduced him to the off road this last year, and he has been my bike riding buddy ever since.  He's great to have along out in the woods; his shouts for joy when he hurdles objects are contagious.  When I wouldn't feel like riding he would say, "Betty, I only feel like exercising twenty-five percent of the time I do it.  But I go anyways, and I am glad I did it one hundred percent of the time."  

I'll miss the way we giggle together over my son's antics and funny way of saying things, commenting on how Romeo could have his own reality show, he's so damn entertaining.  My cat has fallen in love with him, and I know he'll be at a loss when my little brother moves on.  My brother can't sleep on the couch anymore without Sammie the cat curling up as close as he can to his face.  My daughter will surely miss how he tells her, "You and I, we go together like peanut butter and jelly!" As he reaches out with a fist and tells her to pound it.

I feel like I'm losing my two best friends; all in the same month.  A smile plays on my lips and a sadness fills my heart when I think of snow sledding in the winter and I wonder if it will just be the kids and I next year.  I'm trying to keep my head up,  so I'm already thinking about a summer trip out his way to visit and check out bike trails in Minnesota.

This last weekend we went out for a couple of drinks to celebrate new beginnings.  While I sat at the bar at a local pub I caught his look when a man walked up to the bar and cast a glance in my direction.  After the man had left my brother informed me he had been waiting; he felt like the older brother for an instant.  He was on guard and ready to take a stand if that "douche-bag" had even so much as tried to hit on me.  His first course of action was going to be staring him down.  By the evening's end though, it was me looking out for him when he was grumbling about how he had been so close to going home with "some hot chick."  Not trying to burst his bubble, I reassured him she wasn't really "that hot," and I didn't think he was really missing out on much.

Times are changing, as they always do.  This season of our lives is coming to a close, which means new doors of opportunity are opening.  My emotions continue shifting, yet through it all I have a deep sense of peace.  The future is always full of uncertainty.....so we choose to keep hope in our hearts.  And hope prevails, time and time again....