Growing Up Before My Eyes

I stood at the front of a church and watched my brother watch his bride walk down the aisle. I blinked back tears. (I forgot to wear waterproof mascara. I am full of fail.) I stood there, clutching my bouquet, as my brother exchanged vows with the woman who is now my sister-in-law. I smiled at my cousin, his Best Man, who is suddenly 6’3″ and a high school graduate. I stood behind another cousin in line and realized that she is a beautiful young woman.

And wow, I felt old.

I was eight when my brother was born. Okay. That’s a lie. I was seven for a full week after he was born. But, we’ll go with eight to lessen the confusion. I was in second grade. To be more specific, I was in the library. They called me to the office. My Dad was on the phone. (I’m getting weepy right now. What?!) And Dad told me that I had a brother. This was a shock as I was expecting a sister. But, all the same, I made him a big old sign to welcome him home. I used pastel Crayola markers. Do you remember those from the 80′s. Man, I loved Sea Green.

The love affair waned quickly as babies and then toddlers and preschoolers and little boys can wear on their sister’s nerves. I wasn’t always nice. I didn’t want him to bother me when I had friends over. One time, he painted on my pink bedspread with oil based paints. And, this one time, when he was throwing a rock into the creek, it went sideways and whacked me right in the head. I did my fair share of yelling. And, for awhile, I wasn’t sure I’d ever have a friend in my brother.

But, he’s all grown up now. Or, you know, so he thinks. He’s got a lot of life left in front of him to live. He’s got a lot to learn. But I have faith in him. Not necessarily that he’ll find his way out of wet paperbag at times. But that he’ll make it. I am proud of him. I love him. And, despite the pseudo-bickering and that one time I hung up the phone on him this past weekend, I do have a friend in my brother.

But looking at him… and all of my young cousins who have suddenly grown up very quickly… made me feel really old this weekend. And, at the same time, as I shoveled squash into my younger son’s mouth and danced to “What I Like About You” with my older son on the dance floor, I’m realizing that they’re doing the same exact thing: growing up before my eyes. One day, it’s going to be my youngest, exchanging vows with his bride. And I really think I should invest in waterproof mascara before that day.

All the same, my Baby Brother is married. We’re back home while they’re off honeymooning. And life continues on in cycles. Here’s hoping that this is the beginning of something amazing for the both of them; I’d want nothing less for him.