15 Amazing Things About My 45-year-old Best Friend
You all know him by now; he's my brother, my annoying housemate, and my primary caregiver. His day of birth is tomorrow and I want to make another gratitude blog. He is so annoyingly positive sometimes and he are 15 things my best friend has given me:
Unlimited care. This man was 16 when I was born and he took care of me and still continues to do so. Even when it gets annoying, for example, pointing out possible walkways even though I have been disabled for almost 7 years. He has supported me and trusts me enough to be his Grammarly before sending an moot email to his boss who also happens to be the CFO.
A house in San Francisco. I didn't know this until a couple months into living in this space; I found out through our mother. "He bought that house as insurance for you. He has a year or two left until it's fully paid off," she told me. Who buys their sibling a house!? Like seriously, that's some badass shit!
Dropping EVERYTHING if it's an emergency. I've had two 5150s and he (and my gambling addict brother) visited me for the first one before the pandemic got really bad in early 2020. They knew I was raped and were shockingly supportive. This was when I found out that I am not the first in my family to be 5150'ed; two of my brothers have been institutionalized and knowing this gave me a lot more perspective and understanding on my family members’ behaviors.
Humor. He is the only one who can make me laugh until I can't breathe. I swear, we're so funny together and we're both delulu for wondering why we aren't famous yet. We tried (and might try again) to revive our reaction channel on Youtube. He makes the worst dad jokes and I don't think he understands what a pun is, which makes it even funnier.
Grounded and self-disciplined. He has no vices and only drinks when he goes camping or doesn’t have to drive.
The hardcore traveller and backpacker. My brother has so many wild stories (now that's a pun) about getting lost, near-death experiences, yet he loves nature so much. Much. We are the only people in our 4-unit building who actually composts. He uses the water from boiling shrimp as ramen broth for future meals.
Unattainably big brain. Like our mother, he inherited her photographic memory. Our father also told me that when he would drop my brother off at elementary school, he would be sitting properly with a straight body and interlocking hands on the desk. When it was pick up time, he would be in the same pose, as if he were an AI seat warmer.
He provides free shelter for travelers through couchsurfing. We've had people from all over the world stay with us and this is his way of sharing his resources and learning about the different countries he has visited or wants to visit.
Fashionable. That's it. My brother is super fly, my gays. I borrow his clothes a lot, especially his 80s and 90s clothing.
Going off of 9, he made an effort to dress me when I was a child. Looking back at old pictures, I would always ask, where did y'all get this and they said, "your papa dressed you and bought you Oshkosh b'gosh clothing." Iykyk.
Yes, chef (no spoilers for Hulu’s “The Bear," please)! I swear, that man can make a delicious meal with only using a hotdog and cilantro. He will always find a way.
He annoyingly does things before I’m even able to do it! Clean my bathroom…? Nope, he read my mind and did it before I planned on doing it.
Passionate. One of my dislikes about him is his tone, which I've asked him to change, but I'm adapting to not take it so personally. I hear this man yelling in a meeting upstairs where the CEO is present and they all understand that he is not angry, but really passionate about his work.
He is the godfather of all godfathers; he hasn't even met a few of his godchildren! THIS IS HOW AMAZING OF A HUMAN HE IS!
I'm convinced he's a vampire that can survive the sun; he kind of sparkles because of his sweat from speed walking. Sometimes, which my brother and I don't understand, people will say I look older than him. He has taught me the power of daily facial sunscreen, even when I'm just working at home. This man gets 24 and I get 30!? Blasphemous, but aging is one of his biggest fear and I can understand that.
He really started living in his 30s and I am on that same path. He is one of the few reasons why I haven't unalived myself because I know how much he loves me and how hard that will be for him. I know because he has literally been with me all my life and I truly believe that he is one of my soulmates. We fight, but always go back to laughing at a fart. That's the true lesson: farts bring siblings together. My absolute favorite thing about him is his existence and every time I think about him dying, I start tearing up. Great, now I’m crying!
Thanks for all the lessons you’ve given me and continue to give.
Labadyu, Pa, I’ll always harmonize with you!
