My babiest of brothers, and the birthday boy

When I was in college, I took a course in teaching creative writing. Naturally, we had to do a lot of creative writing ourselves, and I found that almost every piece I did centered around Schuyler. Turns out it's easy to create a sense of character when the character is Schuyler. And if you know him, you know why. Schuyler is a whole lot of what anyone who knows him wants to be. But Schuyler has always been a pretty terrific kid. It isn't always those things that I think of most--it's the random stuff. So here's a little list of a few of the things which make me feel warm inside when I think about growing up with Schuyler.

1. He used to tell me that I was the only one who could really make good macaroni and cheese. I'd come back from a semester of college, and he'd beg me to make him a box. It was ridiculous, and it made me feel good.

2. He tolerated a lot of years of me trying to force education on him. I can remember making him listen to me read every night, everything from the Book of Mormon to Huckleberry Finn. I'm pretty sure it was torture for him, but I felt compelled.

3. His knock knock jokes were endless, and never very good. His best was the one about the grilled cheese sandwich, and if you remember, that wasn't even a little funny. It was so endearing. "No wait, wait no wait no wait no wait wait wait. Let me start again."

4. He once learned that a gas station clerk was working on her birthday, and he bought her a flower. He was, what, nine? A kinder soul you won't find.

5. When he was very small, he used to follow me around when he talked, which was a lot. I can remember hearing him roll on outside the bathroom, oblivious to the door I just shut in front of him.

6. He dumped the girl, but he kept the popcorn, dumped the girl, but he kept the drink.

7. I cherish the quiet moments I used to have with Schuyler; he felt like my own little one. I used to sit with him in the big blue rocking chair and sing to him at night.

8. When Schuyler got hit by the car, I slept on the floor downstairs with him because he couldn't be moved upstairs. He would wake up throughout the night and cry out, and I'd say, "I'm here, Schuyler. It's OK. I'm right here." He'd quiet right down and go back to sleep.

Schuyler's such a dynamic and worthwhile person, and I feel just plain fortunate to have been born in the same family. He's ever the entertainer, but so much more. Nobody gets me thinking like he does, and nobody leaves me laughing harder. I never could put into words all the reasons I love Schuyler, or all the things he adds to my life by being who he is. I just want to say--I appreciate you. And don't ever forget, kiddo, that I'm here when you need me. I'm here. Happy Birthday, bud.