To Liam...

Well, today is Liam Archer's twenty-fourth birthday, and while he will most likely never read this, not being one to subscribe to blogs or sign in to Facebook or partake in any other sort of life-sucking, time-wasting internet activities, I'd just like to say a few words about my fabulous, talented brother, as I have known him over the last twelve years.

When I met Matt and he told me he had three younger brothers, I didn't really give it much thought.  I HAD a brother (I still do, and he's my best friend, but that's an entry for another day).  No big deal; a brother is a brother is a brother, right?  Nope.  Not even close.

Growing up as the youngest of two kids, I never thought of what it would be like to have more siblings.  I never needed to.  Justin and I were inseparable; he was all I could ever want in a brother, and, being a total tomboy, the notion that I might be better off with a sister never even entered my mind.  No, it was me and Justin against the world, and that was just fine with me.

When Matt and I first started dating in 1998, the younger Archer boys were little more than funny, well-mannered 'accessories' to the new man in my life.  We got along ok, and I'll admit that at the time I never imagined that I would have the chance to get to know them so well, or that we would share all the laughter, joy, and tears that have come our way since then.  Living so far apart, as Matt and I did, our encounters were few and far between, and I didn't really start to see them as individuals until Mother's Day, 1999, when I moved from Hamilton to the Archers' house just outside Warkworth in rural Eastern Ontario.  For someone like me, a quiet-ish, fairly private, semi-loner, being immersed in this chaotic household full of 'men' was quite an eye opener, to say the least.  I remember my first thought being 'Oh poor Jane!  What a saint!' but I very quickly learned to love my new surroundings and my new family, and I soon started getting to know each of Matt's brothers for the amazing individuals they were (and still are).

While Peck was busy trying his best to make me laugh all the time and inviting his friends home from school to gawk at me like some kind of bizarre zoo attraction, and Mike was busy ignoring me or hating my guts (ha ha), Liam was busy just being Liam, and I instantly respected and appreciated him so much based on that fact alone.  Whether he actually felt that way or not, he immediately made me feel welcome in his home, and I have never truly thanked him for this small kindness he extended to me, a total stranger who had invaded his space.

I know that when many people think of Liam, they see him first and foremost as an astonishing, breath-takingly talented drummer and musician, and yes, there's that.  What that boy can do with a drum kit and a pair of sticks will completely blow your mind, and you will never be the same again.  But that is not what defines him, by any means.  Over the years, I have had the opportunity to form my own first-hand opinion of him (however deluded it may be), and he is SO much more.  The Liam I know is selfless, generous, loyal and caring; levelheaded, easygoing, and even-keeled.  He is real, unpretentious, and speaks his mind freely, without being a jerk about it.  He has a great sense of humour, is incredibly fun to be around, and hard working without complaint.  He shares with his three brothers that warm, friendly, approachable smile and the bewitching 'Archer Charm' that makes them all so darn likable, goddamit!  Truly, he is one of the nicest people I will ever have the pleasure of knowing or the honour of calling my friend. 

Don't get me wrong - I'm sure he has his moments.  I've only seen him really mad a handful of times, and then, from what I remember, he's a wild, thrashing, foaming-at-the-mouth dervish of furiosity... but he gets over it.  Mind you, I'm sure those who know him better than I - his brothers, his mom and dad, his wonderful girlfriend of three years, Andrea - could offer a better description of what Liam is like when he is pissed off, but I'd rather not sully my image of him as 'nicest guy on the planet' with such frivolous details... ha ha.  Besides, we all have our bad days, right?

So here's to you, Liam Timothy Archer.  Happy Birthday.  I'm so proud of you for who you are, for all you have achieved, and for all the wonderful, astounding, well-deserved things that are undoubtedly coming your way.  Thanks for being so damn nice to me all these years, even when my actions were less than impeccable.  Thanks for letting me call you my little brother, even though technically you aren't.  And, most importantly, thanks for just being you, because that's the best thing you could ever possibly be.  I love you dearly, and I always will.

 (please don't kill me Liam... ha ha)