Happy Birthday Brother! (Caitlin)

So my brother’s birthday is tomorrow! He will be 22. He’s pretty much my favorite person ever, so I thought I’d honor this day with some childhood memories. Here goes.

When Jared, Mom, and I lived in our apartment by the YMCA, Mom would set up a jewelry shop for me made of felt and cardboard. She had a huge collection of costume jewelry from her mother, as well as my own gaudy plastic collection. Mom and Jared would come into our room (Jared and I had bunk beds) and buy pieces from me with cardboard coins and fake money. I loved it.

One night, while mom was gone, Jared and I snuck into her room and found her lipstick. We sat on the floor in front of a full length mirror and began to scribble on each other’s faces. I got a little carried away on his though; I colored his entire face and was just filling in his inner ear when mom walked in. She laughed so hard.

At Dad’s house, we would pull out the fold out couch and the three of us would sit together playing video games all night. I remember playing Starfox – the part where you fly around trying to shoot the tiny black dots that were enemy ships. We’d fall asleep on that bed and wake up for Saturday morning cartoons while dad make breakfast.

I remember the day the three of us decided to get Biscuit. The three of us were sitting on the bed/couch and all I could talk about was that I wanted a hamster. Dad said no, but I had this terrible habit of asking over and over again until he gave up. Soon enough he was scanning the news papers. We finally went to a pet shop, and the salesman there convinced us to get a ferret.

Dad would sit plugging up the hall so that she couldn’t go running off down the stairs or behind the couch to her death. Jared and I would sit in the cul de sac-like end of the hallway. Biscuit would skip around: her body in an upside down “U” shape. She’d always knock her little head on the wall she’d get so excited. There was this little tie-dye rubber Easter egg that was bigger than her head. We’d roll it down the hall and she’d sink her teeth into it to the point that we’d pick it up and she’d dangle from it.

Enough of the old times. Jared and I never fight. I actually can’t remember the last time. We must have been tiny. He goes to UNC, and as you know, I go to CSU. Neither of us have cars so we don’t see each other very often. But thank God for Skype and Facebook. We get to talk almost every night. I miss the heck out of him, but hey, I’ve only got about two weeks of school left! Anyways, t-minus three hours and fifteen minutes. Happy birthday brother! I love you!

-Caitlin