A Letter to LaurenIn my life you have played many roles.Oldest Brother,- We never reminisced about days of growing up for by the time I came along you were already grown. They say we danced, but this I do not recall for you were tall, but I was small. Life without Penny I donÃ?Æ?Ã?¢Ã?â??ââ??¬Ã?â??ââ??¢t recall.Teacher- This one came as a surprise, as when Penny said Ã?Æ?Ã?¢Ã?â??ââ??¬Ã?â??Ã?â??Hey, Bridget got her driverÃ?Æ?Ã?¢Ã?â??ââ??¬Ã?â??ââ??¢s permit, you didnÃ?Æ?Ã?¢Ã?â??ââ??¬Ã?â??ââ??¢t realize she meant just that morning, until you had to teach me how to start the car. Over the years you taught me too many of lifeÃ?Æ?Ã?¢Ã?â??ââ??¬Ã?â??ââ??¢s lessons to mention just by your example. God Father- You shared your faith with me. Taking on the role of first my God Father, and then as one of my confirmation sponsor. You took your role as God Father seriously , telling your children during my summer visits that it was your duty to make sure I made it to church. And because of your commitment to me, I chose you to be my son PeterÃ?Æ?Ã?¢Ã?â??ââ??¬Ã?â??ââ??¢s God Father as well. Pillar of Strength- Perhaps this one comes from being the eldest , but I recall you getting up to speak at both at DadÃ?Æ?Ã?¢Ã?â??ââ??¬Ã?â??ââ??¢s wake and WendyÃ?Æ?Ã?¢Ã?â??ââ??¬Ã?â??ââ??¢s funeral while the rest of us could only sit and weep.And Lastly, but the one with the most meaning to me, is that of friend. Over the years our relationship has been an odd one, due to the differences in our ages, not that of typical siblings. My memories of you from my childhood are those of spending summer weeks with your children, feeling like just another one of the kid, sitting in the back seat listening to you sing. And of our trip to South Carolina, when you had the other CB radio users thinking that there was a Yankee in the bushes Luckily in the recent past the years between our births seems to have disappeared. And my memories of you now include the fun ones, like planning our trips into town for the Decatur Celebration around meals and music performances. Heart touching ones of you walking me down the aisle and singing for John and my first dance. And so with a heavy heart I bid my farewells. Your pains have ended and ours are beginning. GodÃ?Æ?Ã?¢Ã?â??ââ??¬Ã?â??ââ??¢s choir now has a new voice. And though I cry because your life has ended, I have to smile more because it happened. I will always love you.Your Baby sister ,Bridget Ann Cedar Rapids , IA US
