My brother and I are very close. We always have been. Even when we were trying to kill each other. I spent many years of my life beating him senseless. It’s a good thing he outgrew me early on, or he may have never made it to adulthood.

As adults, we are very good friends. My brother is a huge motivation for this crazy idea I had to run this damn marathon next week. We talk as regularly as our lives allow and we visit when we can. I consider him one of my best friends, and definitely tops the list of my phone calls when I need counseling. The last time we were together was when I went to Tucson to run the half marathon. If you’ll recall, my brother decided to run it with me and talked his girlfriend into it the night before. This girl - ran the half marathon on a whim because he thought it would be fun. Did she train? No. But she jumped into it without hardly any hesitation. And y’all - she did amazing. She finished right behind me but I’m certain she could have beaten me if she wanted too. It amazed me. And you know the best part about her? My favorite thing about this woman? She was encouraging me to scream the f-word as I crossed the finish-line. That’s my favorite kind of cheerleader.

If you’ll remember, she also gave me my first wine lesson and helped me find a wine I actually like: Riesling. She didn’t balk at my ignorance like someone else in the car did when I said that the only wine I knew was White Zin. She patiently listened to what I liked and even picked out a few for me to try before I decided on the Riesling.

I’m telling you how awesome she is - because she is now my future sister-in-law.

She and my brother went to Rome last week - and he was planning on proposing there. Unfortunately - the romantic situations he had imagined were all foiled due to crowds, weather, crowds, and exhaustion. This is how he explains that it went after several days of failing to find the perfect moment:

This was the end of our days in Rome, I had yet to ask T to marry me and we only had hours left.

T wanted to have dinner in this small restaurant we had seen the first night. A brilliant idea because although the restaurant was next to the ever-popular Trevi fountain, it was in this small alley with small tables, an elegant menu, wonderful bathrooms, and solitude. Then the rain came and emptied the streets and all the tables outside except ours. This was our first time in Rome where the only sound was each other. We began to talk about our relationship, our love, our future and I asked T to marry me. Along with all the amazing things we had seen in those three days it was perfect. Perfect not in the years it took to build or the genius it took to design, but in the way that we finally had the time alone to share our thoughts about love, marriage, and our future. Where everything but love falls away and you can see nothing but the happiness you share and will always share. Amazingly, this was actually that time in my life where my fairytale happened, and my heart committed to its long awaited match. We spent the next several hours enjoying the environment, the feelings, the emotions, and the moment that we never thought would find us.

DUDE. How amazing is that? THAT’S MY LITTLE BROTHER. I have pictures of him in purple MC Hammer pants! And there he is all grown up and proposing to the love of his life in Rome. Being all romantic and shit!

But seriously? I am so happy. T is everything I would have pictured my brother’s wife would be. She’s gorgeous, classy, smart, and most importantly: DAMN HILARIOUS. She kept me cracking up the whole time we were visiting in Tucson. This is awesome because my brother is one of the funniest guys I know - so the two of them together? Double the fun. I’ve only spent a few days with her but I already feel like she is part of our family. That’s how naturally she fits in with us.

I’m hoping she’ll be able to make it to the marathon next week - but it is still up in the air since she travels so much for her job. MrZ and the kids haven’t met her yet - but I know they’ll love her too.

Welcome to the family, T. I’m very happy none of us scared you out of saying yes to my brother when he asked you to marry him. I know you will be happy together. You make him smile in a way I have never seen before. Thank you for that. Thank you for giving him the happiness he deserves. And let me know if he acts up at all, he may be bigger, but he’s still a wuss and I can totally kick his ass for you.