B's Gift

My brother (B) and his "significant other" (D) have announced their engagement!

While the details are being worked out, the fact is that my little brother has decided to get married... I think back to the very moment that I gained a new level of respect for him:

Year: 1994
Month: June

B was very involved with the community basketball program. Often times he would travel with the tournament.

I had just graduated from high school and we were planning the party. The day of the party happen to fall on a day when B would be out of town. As he was leaving the house, he gave me a small, wrapped box and attached a small note that said "Do Not Open Until I Am Gone." I promised him that I would obey the request.

B left. The party began, people came and left... the party ended. Later that evening, as I was alone in my bedroom, I opened the box to find a hand-written note inside. While I can't remember the exact words right now, it said something like:

"I didn't know what to give you for a graduation gift, but I think that I figured out the perfect gift - my absence. I hope you have a good party and please know that I am very proud of you."

I was immediately flooded with 2 thoughts:

1. I don't wish for your absence!
2. Proud of me? I didn't realize that siblings could be proud of each other

At that precise moment, my opinion of my brother changed. I no longer saw him as my younger brother. I saw him as a person, who happened to be my brother.

By doing so, he did give me the perfect graduation gift.