Family

My brother is in college right now, in his junior year of college to be exact, and if you ask any of my close friends you'll find that I tend to talk about him a lot. I look up to him, and I am not afraid to admit it. How could I not- he is my older brother, and that relationship is hard to avoid, admitted or not.

I've learned that he has gained fantastic taste in literature, film, and music since he went off to college, and I enjoy enjoying his recommendations. He recommended two books that I found irreplaceable- The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea and Neuromancer, he also introduced me to several artists including Baths, Phantronic, and Crystal Castles.

I have also learned that he has begun drinking and smoking. Of course the drinking I suppose is unavoidable as it is acceptable and event expected by society that college kids drink. I of course have a particular abhorrence for alcohol, but even more so I dislike the idea of tobacco usage. It seems stupid- the knowledge about its negative effects is widespread and readily available, so why make such a detrimental decision that affects not only you but also those around you?

Regardless of this, I seem to have forgiven my brother and I am willing to spent time with him despite his bad life choices. This leads me to believe that the tie of blood holds people together beyond moral disposition in many cases, and hence ignorant pride and more importantly, the capacity to forgive.