My Four Best Friends. Thanks.

As I sit here on a lonely Thanksgiving night, I can't help but reflect on all the wonderful things in my life. I have noticed in my life that no matter my situation, I am blessed with great people in my life. In the past, I have expressed my gratitude for my friends around the world. I have truly been fortunate in the last several years to have grown close to some incredible people. Whether it was at college, in Florida, or in Michigan, I have been able to obtain a network of good friends who I consider family. But tonight I wish to reflect on just four friends. Four friends who I overlook far too often. These are my four bet friends. And tonight, I owe thanks to them.



Jennifer Yorgason. My big sister. Growing up in a family of 5 kids, Jenny was the first and sorta the guinea pig. Though we were six years apart, I always felt a special closeness to my oldest sister. I watched her grow up while growing a bundle of anticipation. I didn't really have a childhood that most other kids had because I was different. But I used to think once I got to the age of my older sister everything would be better. She was the first to go to high school. She was the first to drive. The first to start dating. She was the first sibling with her own room. She was the first to have a job. The first to get married. The first to have a child. I used to admire the excitement she had experiencing all these new things. I wanted to be like her. Things didn't end up quite the same for me, but it was important for me to have that to look up to as a little child. I don't know if I ever admitted it, but I missed her when she married and left the house. It hit me then that my big sister was gone. Things wouldn't be the same at home ever again. No more nights of the parent leaving Jenny in charge. Jenny was always the responsible one to me. Once I began growing into an adult, Jenny was the sibling I could talk to the most. Our phone conversations are more rare than they should be, but when they happen they go on for hours. She will continue listening to whatever I have to say. I find an indescribable comfort when talking to my oldest sister. There was a time in the last few years when I didn't really know where my relationship with any of my family members stood. During this time, I never once felt that I couldn't talk to Jenny. She was for a time the only one I felt still knew Curtis was just Curtis. That meant for to me during that time than she will ever know. Just as she did when we were young, my sister still cares for me as her little brother and will always be there to laugh with me. This is why Jenny is my best friend.

Russell Collins. My only brother. It would be a lie to call my relationship with Russell growing up perfect. In fact it was not perfect at all. Of all my siblings, I struggled most to get along with my brother. We were two very different people. And I know that there is no way I was the little brother he wished for. Other guys got brothers that would play sports with them, go hunting with them, talk cars and girls with them, wrestle around just for fun, and all the other things typical boys do growing up. I was not the typical little brother. I stayed inside with my toys and legos. I hated sports more than anything else in the world. I was drawing pictures while Russell and my father watched the football games. And I know it had to have been embarrassing to have a little brother with Nsync posters up on his wall. If one were to read any of my childhood journals, you would find that I was usually extremely frustrated with my brother. I didn't always have the nicest things to say about him. But it's the things I chose to ignore in my childhood that give a real glance at my relationship with my brother. My brother didn't get the brother that was easy. He got the brother he had to watch over and protect. He was the one tasked with watching over me at school. The one who defended me. The one who sacrificed a lot to satisfy parents who were worried about his younger brother. I didn't appreciate any of this then, but I do now. I didn't like my brother growing up because I was jealous of him. My old journals won't tell you that. But Russell was the older brother who seemed perfect in the eyes of everyone else. I was jealous that he had all the manly things in common with my father. I never had that close relationship when growing up. At school teachers always compared or told me about how great my older brother was. At church people talked to me more about my brother than they ever did about myself. I had to fill these shoes that just didn't fit me. People loved my brother. And instead of admiring that, I turned it into hatred. I am not proud of that, but thank goodness we keep living after childhood. My relationship with my brother now is in a place I never thought it would be. When I came out to my family three years ago, Russell was the only one I couldn't tell. I was so worried about losing him. His reaction with the news has been the most touching of anyone. We have always been different, but the last few years those differences have brought us close. I am proud to have him as a brother. I appreciate that even as an adult, he still has my back and wants to help me with any obstacle I face. Knowing that my brother loves me is a blessing I hold dear. I am no longer jealous, but admire that people are so impressed by my brother. This is why Russell is my best friend.

Christine Davis. The little sister who I claim stole my childhood. I do tell stories of my little sister, Christy, who came along just a year after me and stole all my attention. Wether this is true or not is up for debate, but was isn't disputable is the fact that my childhood would have been even more lonely without her. I didn't have friends growing up. Instead I had Christy. We were close in age and as kids we played together a lot. We experienced life stages and growing up together. If I related to any sibling the most growing up, it was Christy. Being close also came with downsides too of course. We didn't always get along, but I always knew my sister was there for me. It's hard for me to accept that my little sister has grown up so quickly. Somewhere along the road, she managed to pass me up. I kinda always figured she would. Even though she was the younger one, i always knew deep down that she was far more prepared for life than I was. She is now married with three kids of her own. Weren't we supposed to experience all of life's stages together?! As adults, we are now finally each on our own path. It's hard to accept, but it's also a good thing. I still hold tight to all the memories we have together. I spent more time with her than any other single person growing up. There is a special bond between us that will never be explained. We no longer play dress up, color together, or complain about the same teachers together. I don't play the piano and yell at her to dance anymore. But it will still ALWAYS be Curtis and Christy. The twins. There are times even now when we are together I feel like we are just two little kids together again with no worries or cares. Just us. This is why Christy is my best friend.

Brittany Collins. The baby. We all used to fight over Brittany as a baby. Everyone wanted her attention. In the end, I like to think that I won. Just saying. All my other siblings grew up looking after me. Bri was the only sibling that I was able to look out for. I am sure more than not, she was embarrassed by her brother, but I was determined to play the older sibling role. Brittany is the sibling who probably had the most patience with my oddities. I am sure she still rolls her eyes when I ramble off about my random pop culture facts. But she shows interest in my hobbies even when she probably could care less. I have always appreciated that. In our older years, me and bri have been left as the only single kids left. I think this has brought us really close. Me and Bri talk to each other more than anyone else in the family. I love to share my stories of life with her. These are the stories that I think the rest of my family might not be able to take. Haha. I am so proud as I watch my baby sister grow into an independent woman. I have made enough mistakes in my life that I feel a need to help guide my little sister. I want her to experience all the amazing aspects of life that I have. I see so much potential in her. I am hanging onto her as long as I can, because I know that soon enough she will meet someone and join our other siblings in the world of marriage and children. Until then I have my lil sis to compare dating disasters with. I look at Bri as someone who has taken control of her life and followed her dreams. I like to take credit for being her inspiration, but the truth is she inspires me just as much. I am so proud of her and know she will continue to grow into an amazing woman. And I know even when I am the only one left at the single table, she will still come over to oblige Curtis and his story time. This is why Brittany is my best friend.

My family knows that I hate to say the "love" word. I don't express my sappy emotions much at all. But I wanted each of them to know that on this day, and every day, I am grateful for them. I may not have had friends as a child, but I didn't need them. Because I had the four BEST friends I could have asked for at home. Thank you for always being there. I may be the black sheep, but this black sheep feels most himself when he is with you white sheep.