the distance the separates us

yesterday was the youngest brothers birthday.
he has officially entered his teens.
big sister had the brilliant idea for us to conference call him while he opened our joint gift.
we did.
he screamed.
and then mom sent us a picture of him in the gift.
big sister was in the big apple.
while i was here, soaking up the sun.
its hard not being there to watch the youngest leave behind his baby years.
its hard to hear the voice on the phone say he wished we could be there too.
and its hard to hang up on new york, three hours ahead.

but in a way we will always be there.
as our family has spanned the country, we have become experts at early birthday gifts, joint giving, cards sent the day of and phone calls of love.
and that's how we are together, when we are apart.