My relationship with my brother, Scott, shaped who I am today. He taught me so many things. In my youth, he taught me I better pick up my things and lock my bedroom door, or I would find my school project glued to the coffee table or my Monopoly game missing many pieces. As we grew up together, he taught me how to have empathy, a backup plan, patience, the ability to accept differences, an exit plan, perseverance, tolerance, and always to have an extra slinky on hand.
Typically, an older sibling is an informal teacher and helps their younger siblings expand their vocabulary and social interactions. This was very much a part of my relationship with Scott. Scott wasn’t really great with his verbal skills; however, he learned to communicate his needs and wants. Helping him learn how to communicate with some help from Anne and watching his frustration in trying to communicate with us drove me to become a Speech Language Pathologist and later a Director of Special Services.
Growing up, there were certainly difficulties; however, they are overshadowed by all of the great memories that I have of him. Many times, Scott joined me when I was young to play baseball or kickball, to go ice skating, to go sleigh riding, and many other activities. This continued as we grew up, and these times have become the best memories of my brother. Activities such as going to the shore, out to eat, parties, holidays, fireworks, baseball games, skiing, parades, circus, ice skating, roller skating, and bowling are just some of the things we enjoyed
together.
I could never capture who my brother was or how he enriched my life in just one story or memory. I loved him more than words could describe and would not have traded him for anything. I was the luckiest sister ever to have Scott as my brother.
— Wendy, Scott’s Sister