I have the best brother in the world. Sorry, you can’t have him. He’s taken.

Since his earliest days as the youngest (and only) boy with four older sisters, he’s had to be a survivor. We worked him over, in that loving and hilarious way that only older siblings can do, including but not limited to throwing him outside in the snow wearing only his pajamas, letting him join our game when we knew he would be the next one out, and torturing him by whispering to each other while he was sitting right there. Yes, we certainly helped him build his wonderful sense of tolerance and fun. Right, bro? No hard feelings, right?

But as things turned out (and these things do have a way of righting themselves), he grew up big and strong and to borrow an expression, “the worm turned.” There came a time when we big sisters realized that teasing our dear brother could be hazardous to our health.

He could run faster than we could, and his active mind was always thinking of some way to get his well-earned revenge. The time had come for us to change tactics and embrace him as our equal.

Besides, he was really fun to be around. He always had something cooking and his relentless good nature was hard to resist. Since then, we’ve all just been along for the highly entertaining ride. 

He did all the usual great brother stuff like being a standout athlete in high school , having a blast in college and making an ever-widening circle of friends. To this day, it is impossible to go anywhere — and I mean anywhere — with him without meeting someone who knows him. He proves the truth in that Will Rogers saying, “A stranger is just a friend I haven’t met yet.” 

He and his wife met in college and came back home to raise their three beautiful children. He also took on the prodigious task of continuing the family business and it has thrived (throve? thriven?) under his leadership. He’s done so well.

And this is the time of year when we celebrate another journey around the sun for our dear brother. He, the one who brings the love and the laughter (and the shrimp for family parties). He, who makes sure that our parents’ and grandparents’ graves are decorated for the holidays. He, who has been living a life of service to his community in so many ways. He, who has a heart as big as all outdoors and will help anyone in need.

He, who insists that his family wear costumes to every family Christmas party. He, who wandered around town this year dressed as a giant candy cane and handed out little candy canes to all he met. That guy. My brother. The best in the world.

Happy Birthday, Fred. Love you.