My brother, Phil, graduated today\yesterday. He is now offically finished with school, though unofficialy not so much. Strangely enough, this feels like more of a turning point than did, say, your 18th birthday. Now, you're going to be moving on, maybe not immediately, but the time is close now, close enough to warrant this post. As I stated on your card, it's been a long sixteen years. I've known you my entire life, and I am the better off for it. Maybe sometimes, I haven't realized that, but you have given me an example to follow. In some things, of course, I don't agree with you, but your insightful comments have shown me truths that I would have otherwise ignored or missed altogether. You have taught me what it is to love, what it is that makes up me, and how to respect someone a lot bigger than me. You have shown me dedication, bravery, creativity, humour, and open-mindedness towards things that I haven't experienced(though, I have to say, I'm probably better off without the eggplant). You've given me new taste in music(to think I used to like country!), bruises, and a lot of helpful advice\criticism. Many of the things you've said to me will carry me through a difficult time, or will make me realize something I would not have realized otherwise. We are different, you an I, it is true. I think those differences can be summed up in the following conversation, while "playing" with LEGO(or was it Construx?), so many years ago:

Me: "Alright, I made a plane, let's play!"

Phil: "No, I want to build"(some fantastically large and disgustingly compilicated and time consuming building)" first!"

Me: "Phil, that'll take all day, common, I wanna play."

Phil: "Later, OK, I just want to finish this."

Me: *sigh*, "Fine, just hurry up, I'm bored."

(hours later)

Me: "Phil, are you done yet?"

Phil: "No, it didn't look how I wanted it, so I took it apart and started over."

Me: .......

Yeah. You still want to build, and I still want to play. I really hope that I can still play with you, once you've finished building. So, um, are you finished with your school yet, because I need a ride to my friend's party....