It's a Wonderful Life,...because I have a big brother

I'm going to take this opportunity to completely humiliate my big brother. He hates uncomfortable scenes. If I really wanted to make him miserable I would invite him and all his "too much testosterone" friends over to listen to me sing a lame karaoke song, probably something by the B 52's. Why is it all karaoke singers always know Love Shack? I'm just saying. At his wedding rehearsal dinner my Mom had arranged for a high school girl to sing some ridiculous Christina Aguilar song and I could see the misery in his body language. Shifting from side to side, trying to force a content smile on his face.

Throughout my entire life one thing has always been constant. I could always count on my big brother. Without Fail. When everyone forgot my birthday, including my own parents, I went to the mailbox to find a Texas Tech Key Chain arrive on my actual 16th birthday. Even away at college big brother managed to remember his little sister on her big day.

For whatever reason I was always the kid whose parents forgot to pick them up. Whether that be from school, a party or a friend's house. I hated that feeling of being forgotten. But when big brother was suppose to pick me up, he was always there right on time. Never complained about having to drive his little sister around.

Even in high school when I was a nerdy freshman and he was a high school senior football star, big brother showed me around. Not for one second was he embarrassed to have his little sister join him and all his faithful followers. Drove me to school every day. The only rule he ever imposed was that I was not allowed to date any of his football friends. Fair Enough. I just waited until I was in college and then made out with all his friends,...sorry brother. He has lifted upon thousands and thousands of heavy boxes for me, cracked a joke when I needed one, taught me how to be cool and how to cheat at Monopoly.

So what has big brother done now to completely cement his spot as

WORLD'S BEST BIG BROTHER.....

The other night I was sitting with hubby complaining about family today. Why is it no one really cares anymore? Why don't they ever come over and visit with their niece and nephew? Why are every one's parents always divorced these days. Why can't they make it 10 minutes down the street to share Thanksgiving with us. What are we,...accessories for our families when they need someone to play the role of sister, daughter, in-law? While hubby and I were getting all worked up I noticed that yet again all these years later I have received a package in the mail from big brother. Opened it up to find a letter and a ornament. As I read the letter tears fell down my face. How is it that big brother always knows just the right words to say, even when he lives over 9 hours away. A letter written to me by my BIG BROTHER and a Christmas ornament from my favorite move "It's a Wonderful Life. Someone actually really knows me. Someone actually knows my heart and cares.

The ornament was A-W-E-S-O-M-E for a self declared Christmas maniac like myself. It's my "go to" holiday movie and every year I cry like any thirty something woman should. I'm amazed every time when Clarence gets his wings and George discovers he really does have a wonderful life. On the ornament is a scene from the movie and on the back was a message to me from Karolyn Grimes. She was the woman who played ZuZu in the movie. I couldn't believe it.

Can your big brother do that???

So as far as I'm concerned big brother invented the rain, the wind, the sky and the moon. And as a bonus, he'll kick your butt if you mess with his sister,...

My present to you big brother, you're forgiven for cutting my hair when we were kids.