The accounting of siblings
Last night, I took my daughters to see Trolls Band Together. While my daughters were busy declaring it the "best movie ever," I enjoyed the buttery popcorn and a much-needed catnap in the comfy reclining chair, serenaded by catchy tunes from the pops and boy bands.
In this latest Trolls escapade, Branch reunites with his lost brothers to rescue a kidnapped sibling from the clutches of a pair of evil counterparts. It's a tale of sibling bonds, and it hit close to home after a weekend road trip to Ottawa to celebrate my youngest brother hitting a new decade.
Today, I am showering my appreciation to my brothers, acknowledging them as the unsung heroes in my life. While growing up, they were a source of annoyance, always poking into my business, reading my diaries, and generally making a mess of my teenage sanctuaries. Fast forward to the present, Alain, Carl, and Chris are not just family but invaluable assets. I have benefited from their entourage and continue to benefit from their insights. Additionally, I get free legal and coding services whenever I need them.
My brothers, all within a 10-year age span from me, have become my daily sanity check my go-to confidants. We banter, tease, and share a bond that distance can't diminish. Sure, there were moments when they seemed like a collective nuisance. For example, thirty years ago, my brother intercepted my love letter to my then-neighbor. He caused me to be grounded for an entire trimester, and I missed important social activities. Reflecting on our shared history, I see them as the pillars of my resilience and strength.
From surviving vacations in LaVallee to enduring the heat of Haitian embargoes, we've weathered it all together. Our shared experiences, from sneaking into our parents' room at night because of the incessant gunshots, to watching forbidden movies, have shaped us into the tight-knit unit we are today. Even with the seemingly trivial disputes, the food theft, the spotlight stealing – they all contributed to molding my character, instilling in me the strength and optimism needed to adapt to the different environments in my career.
Us (with my first daughter)
My brothers, each with their unique personalities and quirks, have been my unwitting mentors. Their differences forced me to adapt, to learn, and to grow. They were my crash course in Canadian winters, my English tutors, pop culture, and hip hop, and my guides through the maze of laws and intellectual property.
In our mischievous plotting, we learned teamwork and compromise. Even enduring piano lessons, where my competitive brother aimed to finish the lesson books before me, taught me the value of perseverance and commitment. Together, we've hatched plans, pulled off successful projects, and recently started discussing ways to support our parents in their retirement.
But it's not just about shared history and lessons learned. My brothers have been my unyielding support system, accepting me for who I am, with my quirks and intricacies. Despite my being "a lot," they've stood by me, visiting when I moved, reaching out daily, and always having my back. They are my teammates, confidants, and a constant reminder not to get too comfortable.
So, this Thanksgiving, I raise a toast to my brothers – imperfect, sometimes maddening, but undeniably some of my most valuable assets. They ground me, nurture me, and, like the mischievous trolls of the big screen, never let me forget to dance to the beat of life.
Alain, Carl Alphonse , and Christian Alphonse, Thank you for being in my life! Thank you for teasing me! And I will send you an invoice for all the hours I spent cleaning up your messes.
Happy Thanksgiving!
#grateful #thebalancedsheets #siblings #brothers #cpa
