As I sit here watching Almost Famous, it reminds me of one of my ultimate heroes in life. The Beavis to my Butthead, the Luke to my Leia, the Samwise to my Frodo. Yes, I’m talking about my big brother, Matt. Anyone who knows anything about us knows that I have worshipped Matt (sometimes ad nauseam) since the day I entered this World. I have trailed after him with wide and often mischievous eyes always longing just to be near him. Matt is quite literally one of my favorite people on this Earth and I have never understood how people could say they “hated their brother or sister”. That was so the absolute opposite of what I felt for him and even though I know I often made his life more difficult than pleasant as a young child just by the nature of my oftentimes challenging and (shall we say) boisterous personality, it is still Matt that would go to the fiery pit of Mount Doom for me. 

    If this analogy doesn’t make sense to you, let me explain. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic story “The Lord of the Rings”, Frodo, the main character is given the task of carrying the ring to Mount Doom and throwing it inside the fiery pit to destroy it as it’s power is too great and ultimately is destructive. But only Frodo has the power to carry the ring. Frodo and his best friend (and practically his brother), Samwise, set out on a journey to go to Mount Doom to destroy the ring. On the course of their journey, Frodo is consistently weakened by the ring’s powers to the point where it almost kills him. In the end, it is Samwise who makes the decision to pick Frodo up and carry him the rest of the way, stating, “I can’t carry it FOR you, but I CAN carry YOU!!” 

   Matt would, and has gone, to Mount Doom with me. When I needed him most, he was there, and never left my side. He believed in me, loved me, didn’t judge me and had all the faith in the World that I would make it home to The Shire again in one piece. And I did. He is quite literally my Samwise and carried me the rest of the way. I will never be able to put into words how grateful I am to have him as my partner in crime on this road trip of life. 

     Matt has always been a big fan of the movie Almost Famous. It has a particular mantra he likes, “It’s All Happening”. My personal favorite is “Rockstars Have Kidnapped My Son”. But to each his own. So when that movie came on tonight, it just felt like the perfect chance for me to think and reflect on one of my all time favorite people in the World and give him a proper shout out. I love you Marty. ZUNE. You’re JUST THE GOOD STUFF.