Steven

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE!

Today is my brother Steve's birthday.  He's my older brother by two years and the first to come along in the family.  The rest of us really lucked out, especially me being the next one down. He's the kind of older brother every kid deserves.  He's the older brother who walked to school with me and who was waiting at my door when kindergarten was over.  He taught me how to work my bike lock and for the better part of a year met me on the playground after lunch to put my very weird retainer back in.  He pulled me up into tree houses to avoid rabid dogs (at least I was sure they were) and boosted me up onto our elementary school roof so I wouldn't be left behind when he and a friend found a new Saturday play place.  Then when the bikes that had carried us to our new play place were confiscated by a grumpy Saturday-working teacher who heard our heavy tread on the roof, he bravely confronted Mr. Grimshaw and apologized for all of us to get them back (while I hid behind him).  He's a supreme pillow fighter, hide-and-seeker, and checkers player.  He perfected the up-the-fence-onto-the-roof-down-the-tree move for our neighborhood kick-the-can games.  Steve is fearless.  He climbed to the very top of trees during gusty windstorms, never hesitated to tickle sleeping parents uncovered feet, outwitted burly assailants on the streets of Prague, and snuck up the back staircase of Neuschwanstein castle.  A hero for any girl.  I followed him through elementary, middle school, high school.  Always two years behind, always met with accolades when I announced whose sister I was.  College saw us together for a year as his mission to Hungary put him two years back.  A year I shared his car, his friends, his chemistry class, and his company.  

Now Steve's married and advises me on things like how to make good spaghetti and razing three monkeys.  Advice I still long for, treasure, and love.  Happy birthday Steve.

Just so we're all clear, although Steve is mostly perfect he does have a few vices.  He hates to loose, he thinks cheating is part of the game, and if you don't pay attention at the breakfast table--he'll steal your bacon.

love you Steve 

Angie, Steve, Tabitha, Simon, Thomas, Atticus