So there's a Birthday today...

I'm not sure how many of you know my brother. The older one. Jared. (He's pictured below as a young blond child in the middle :)

If you know him, you know that as he read that first sentence he cringed a little and thought "oh Brittany, why, you didn't have to mention me, oh what is she going to say."

If you think you 'kind of know' my brother you would think he's shy. And then you'd sit next to him at a boring meeting and hear the funny things he says and realize he's the funniest person you've ever met.

Here's the back story: So Jared was born on April 8th. Then I was born the very next year on April 23rd. I'm sure Jared struggled through life before I was around. But the day they brought me home from the hospital I made my best friend. He's was there waiting to stare at me all day. Mom says that's what he did. Stared at me all day...We even have a picture (unfortunately I don't have a digital copy).

So you can imagine how well I know him. I know him better than he thinks I do. I still don't ever know what to buy him for Christmas or Birthdays, but I blame that on the fact that he's so particular. Although I will admit that last year I got him a model car for Christmas that surprised him and he LOVED! Success after 23 years...

So today, in honor of the fact that I didn't know what to get you, although I'm still thinking. Here's a tribute to Jared, my brother, who loves me enough not to get mad at me for posting all this.

Jared: He's always been cool. Like when Umbros and Adidas flip flops with socks were in style. He definitely had them. Or like the time he met the guy from Harry Potter and he put on his cool face.

To my brother who can make me laugh more than anyone ever. Really. It doesn't even have to be funny. Matter of fact the less funny the better and we'll laugh so hard we cry and hold our stomachs like they're going to fall out.

To my brother who humored me and took the Chinatown bus from NYC to Philly because it was so cheap. I'm sorry we missed the first bus and had to wait an hour in the snow with freezing feet and strange people because I didn't know we were supposed to get on the first bus.

To my brother who sleeps on the floor a lot because it's convenient. Thanks for teaching me in college to be able to fall asleep on couches. I'm glad we had a 3 bedroom condo and both slept in the living room.

To my brother who hates taking pictures. And even more hates when other people see pictures of him. You'll forgive me right? because this one you yourself posted to Facebook.

To my brother who threw me a surprise party in college for my birthday. It meant more to me than you'll ever know. Sorry I didn't throw you a surprise party today...

To my brother who's been alive just a little longer than me. Happy Birthday. I wouldn't be the same without you (thank goodness you were there... or I'd still be really, really, really nerdy and probably still wear scrunchies).