Here's to the hero

 So one of my best friends is engaged to a beautiful girl and getting married soon. His name is Devin. Devin is my uncle, but since I didn't ever get a big brother, I use him.
 Devin is eight years older than I am, but that hasn't mattered much. He has always included me in
most everything he does. The pictures below accurately depict the dynamics of our friendship.
I don't even know where to begin to start with the memories I have of Devin. I guess I can first remember Devin as a big kid, who went to school and came home with all sorts of interesting facts about the world. He knew Spanish. Very impressive to a five year old. I remember playing dodge ball on the trampoline with Devin and Adalee. I remember standing on  the swing to get green grapes that fountained out around us in a shock of green, and Devin thoughtfully taught Add and I the art of spitting out the sour skins of the grapes and reached the grapes that we could not. I watched Free Willy with Devin, and watched him love his big yellow lab, Matthew. As I grew up, I grew closer to Devin as the Barbie and Horses phase slowly faded out and I could appreciate more than princesses and dramatic fantastical adventure.

Devin is always eager for fun, and we have had a lot of it, which you might have gathered from the pictures. Funny was always welcome in our activities, and he loves a good time, which is part of the reason that I believe we get along so well.

We both love to have a good time. Devin took me on car rides with him to the grocery store, and he would blast the music, then soften it so it was barely audible, then blast it again. We took funny pictures on photo booth. We had karate wars. We played soccer. We jumped off rocks like super heroes. We ate hot Cheetos. We watched movies. I was late for school one day when Devin was visiting because He started playing the song "Wavin' Flag" at high volume and we started jamming. My late note read, and I quote, " Dancing with my Uncle"

Devin is everything adventurous and fresh and funny and new for me. He was my cool partner in crime. He treated and treats me like an equal in every way. Devin left for a mission for two years. I sent him "joke of the weeks" and photos I took on photo booth. He put them up and sent me a picture. He read and replyed to all my emails. I remember wanting to make him laugh so badly. I still love to make him laugh because Devin has the best smile and laugh that I have ever heard.


Devin came home two years later and we had both grown up a little, but he was the same good old Devin, happy and fun as ever before.

We do things a little differently now. We text instead of email and call. We Instagram. Devin is always current on the fun trendy stuff it seems.  I spew all the news from my exiting freshy life to him and I sent him cheesy date ideas. He's always supportive with a enthusiastic, "Go Girl!" or " You're awesome, Breck"  HE CAME TO MY SWIM MEET. You must be a swimmer or personally know one to appreciate the sacrifice and labor of love that attending a swim meet entails. After my first swim meet, he called me right away to ask how it was. He makes me feel special. He tells me he likes having me around and he shares his life and fun news with me. I honestly don't feel more unique and proud of it then when I'm around Devin. He has played a very important role in my personality development. He always has encouraged my goofyness, cheered on my desire for unique,  complimented my endeavors, and everything else a uncle should do.  When I proposed a flashmob, he said, "sure!"

 When I send him videos of me lip syncing " I want a hippopotomous for Christmas", he asked to show it to his girl friend.

Devin might not be as much of a kid anymore, but he will always be one of my heroes and favorite people ever. I look forward to lots of fantastic times with him, and his wife, even though he's hit this exiting milestone.

Devin, I never got a big brother. I got you. You make me feel beautiful and special. You make me want to be unique. You've always made me believe I can do anything. You are amazing. You are a light in our family. You love life. You love to have fun and enjoy life to the fullest. You are a good man, the best kind there is. Jessica is one of the luckiest women alive. Thanks for all the memories, here's to a lot more! I love you.