my frank brother;

unfortunately not named "frank", rather christopher.

[christopher & me, high school graduation 2007.]

my brother is always there to lend a "helping hand". not neccassarily to merely guide down the winding road of guidance to a younger sister who's quite befuddled, but also, a helping hand to smack me over the head when i'm being ridiculous.
he tells me the truth. sometimes the encouraging kind. sometimes the brutal kind. but i am so happy that he does. because if he didn't, who would?

i am grateful that he told me: lots of boys are jerks. not everyone is going to like you & that's ok. life is hard-fight hard. being yourself is more important than being of the majority. stand up for that which you feel passionately about.
& tonight he told me exactly what i needed to realize, before the day was over:

Look forward, not at what people are telling you to look at.

as i sat watching "500 days of summer" last night i immediately saw a similarity of tom & his little sister's relationship with my brother's & mine. we aren't necessarily super close, but ever since i was little, i have loved talking to him for hours on end about anything & everything. i am so happy that he has found love, & i'm thankful he is there to listen to all my boy troubles...because before we are done talking, i always need him to remind me that everything will work out the way its supposed to
& of course the usual: anna, get it together.

xo-