My brother left last night for a long weekend in DC to live it up with friends at Gallaudet. I was just thinking, I’ll miss the little sucker.  Why am I telling you this?

“Build a blog around your personality” – advice by Jessica Northey (for those who don’t know her, she is a true twitter & blogging goddess).

I’ll start by sharing a very important…value, perhaps even cause, that I believe in: sibling relationships.
When I graduated, I came out full force with the plan that I would land a job and move out. It was nothing personal against my wonderful family – home just translated into the land of boredom. I was ready to peace out.
A year later, I am still home, and I am happy.  Cameron, 2 years younger, and I are children of divorce and the byproduct is we’ve learned over the years to value time with our parents and each other. But it’s taken an colossal impact on me recently. I’ve explored Europe alone, lived there with a double language barrier, and lived in typical college apartments with ghastly carpet. Moving out wasn’t a problem. I struggled to find a job for months. I stumbled into social media contract work, finding that I had a 5th sense for it, and am slowly turning it in a small business for now.  It’s exciting, though challenging. But I do believe this happened for several reasons – and one of that was so I could spend more time at home while I could because I know even greater things are due.

I know there are strong sibling relationships that exist, but there are far too many that don’t cherish it. It saddens me. Cameron and I always were pretty tight, and being the only Deaf people in our family helps. He’s my #1 travel buddy – we will wake up at 9 AM with energy drinks on standby before exploring, staying out until 3 AM. And repeat. We’ve had our share of battles. First loves made us distant. He was a punk. I was bossy and overly protective.  He doesn’t live in that perfect bubble I wished he did – because you know it’s only OK if I do crazy stuff but not him, right?

Now because I’ve been home for a full year, we transform seemingly dull evenings by slupree runs, movie marathons, making bets about people, riding bikes in back of Target, sneaking him a Blue Moon and talking. We’re like best friends, but being siblings somehow solidifies it further and it’s something to not take granted of. Now you know a little more about me. This fella probably will be my Maid (Man) of Honor when I get married (I don’t like doing things traditional anyhoo!).  Some people may roll their eyes at how much we hang out (so i’ve been told)….

But whatever, and Cameron, thank you for being a kid with me for a little while longer, it’s done me good. Have fun in DC but promise me (these applies for the short and long term) 1) Travel in packs 2) Sleep on your side 3) When we do move out, abuse social media to keep in touch!

Point of the story? It’s ok to unleash your inner kid – it’ll keep you sane - and send your sibling a nice message, now.

BONUS: Few savvy people that know how to be silly to tweet at:

Aaron of #MediaChat: @kilby76 and Charlie of Hashtracking: @chlj do good at ambushing people for twitter night time cupcake parties with @CupcakeCutiesKit.
Cameron: @CamReuss
Me: Well, duh. @AnneReuss

Ty who thinks he’ll live until 352: @ty_sullivan