My baby brother is 18 today..

Dear Robert,

Eighteen years go by so fast. It was like yesterday that I remember you being born. It was 1990, and I was 12 years old. We were living on the Big Island of Hawaii at the time, and life was pretty much a carefree world. The day before you were born we all ( mom, dad, Marlon, Monica, Lisa, G&G Frandsen and me) went on a snowtubing trip up on Mouna Kea. The elevation is about 13,ooo feet above sea level. I would always get sick up there because the oxygen was so thin. We all rode up that bumpy dirt road, and mom looked very tired and uncomfortable. This was all dad's ploy to get mom into labor so he could get the tax deduction before the new year! Well, Mouna Kea has snow, it's pretty much ice though, so when we'd get on those tubes we'd rocket to the bottom of the little valley and then have to climb back up. I don't remember being up there very long, due to the lack of oxygen. After that we drove all the way back down that same bumpy road and hit the beach. I don't think there are many places in the world where you can go snowtubing and surfing in the same day.. I just remember mom saying she wouldn't be surprised if she had the baby that night.

Later that night, we got home and went to sleep. I remember mom coming in and waking me up in the middle of the night. I was thinking that it was time for school or something and I was grumbling about her bothering my slumber.. (some things don't really change) She told me that she was in labor and dad was driving her to the hospital. G&G Frandsen were there visiting so they were staying with us. It was a saturday night. The next morning we woke up and had to go to church since I was giving a talk in Sacrament Meeting. I didn't even want to do it, I was really nervous and would've rather come see mom in the hospital. I even remember that my talk was on "goals".. I think I spoke so fast that not one person could understand what I was saying! Right after that we left. We were all looking forward to seeing our new baby brother at the Kealakekua Hospital. I remember the first time we were there and got to hold you it was quite a competition. We all took turns, and I don't remember you crying much. You still hadn't been given a name yet. Mom and dad were thinking of giving you maybe a Hawaiian name since you were born there, but couldn't decide on one. It was about 5 days later you were given your official name, Robert Merrill Duke. Robert because you were named after mom's brother, and Merrill after Grandpa Duke.. Your Hawaiian name is Lopaka, which we called you every so often. Either that or baby Luke.. But Luke Duke didn't seem very nice to do to you. =)

We were so lucky to have you join our family, you've been a huge blessing to all of us. You suffered through many times when us girls would dress you up and even put makeup on you. You all entertained us with your lip-sync abilities, and you were just fun to have as a little bro. I loved chasing you out of the room if we had a "guy" over. You would make smooching noises and be so annoying.. =) Sometimes I feel bad cause I left home while you were still so young, and that I've missed a lot of you growing up. But looking back we had lots of fun, and when we get together now it's good to see you've turned into such a great man. You have lots to look forward to, you are at such a fun stage in life. Take advantage of it and always know that we love you! So Happy Birthday little bro, I hope you have a great day!! We love you very much and miss you!! We are still cool enough to hang out with, even though I'm a mom. My kids love their Uncle Bob!!

Love Dianna