I was eighteen when we brought you home.
How I will always remember that day!
The prettiest baby that I’d ever seen!
(What would you expect your proud brother to say?)
A six-week-old infant had now become ours
After many months on a paperwork sea.
We held in our arms a tiny bundle—
My baby sister, Rebecca Marie.

A new baby sister can be exciting—
For a few days, that is; I cannot lie.
To babysit wasn't part of my plans.
My social life? I just knew it would die!
But somehow we managed. It wasn’t so bad.
But those ear infections! Man, what a scare!
Helpless, sometimes I held you for hours;
I’m glad we still had that old rocking chair.

It seems now that the days passed by quickly.
You started swimming before you were one.
Mom had to take you to all of your lessons;
That tearful experience for Dad was no fun.
But you grew up fast. Can you imagine
How my life quickly became so enriched
From taking you to parks and to movies
And from watching Sesame Street and Bewitched?

I’ll never forget when I joined the army—
You were that slightly rambunctious small fry—
And I had to fly from L.A. to Missouri.
It killed me inside to have to kiss you good-bye!
But I returned home after leaving the service,
Finished my schooling, began my career.
It seemed like watching a film in fast motion:
Images fleeting, you in high gear.

The seasons sped by as we journeyed onward.
We shared happy moments, along with the sad.
But the saddest days that we spent together
Were in '98 when we lost both Mom and Dad.
Then life made you, our brothers, and me
Enter a sobering, eye-opening new phase.
Though living apart, we all held together;
We kept looking forward to happier days.

I now look back at all of life’s moments
Some memories are fading, but one thing I know:
Your coming into our lives was a blessing;
You filled our lives with both sparkle and glow.
Though you are now grown-up with a family,
Whenever I see you my thoughts start to swirl,
For I can still see you prancing around me—
All I can see is that same little girl.

- by Bob B