The first time Branden met his Big Brother Michael in October 2003, he was a little shy. That wasn’t a problem because as Michael remembers, “We were both a little shy.” The two broke the ice when they grabbed a few board games to play, and Branden beat his Big at the game “Battleship!” The competition, and fun, between them have continued to this day.
Branden is a native of Pittsburgh and Michael of the Philadelphia-area. “We always ‘fight’ when we see the Steelers play the Eagles, the Phillies versus the Pirates, or the Flyers against the Penguins,” says Michael. However, the rivalry among the two ends when it comes to their mutual love of music, R&B Oldies to be exact. Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson and the Spinners are some of the classics the pair enjoy.
The two also enjoy making pizza from scratch, laser tag, and visits to Pittsburgh sites. Michael recalls a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo when Branden was climbing the rope-web exhibit. “Branden was acting like he was James Bond. He lost his footing and fell off the net. He was laughing the entire time, and I got it on tape. We still watch it and laugh to this day.”
When asked about what he has learned so far from his Big, Branden replies, “I learned how to take care of a dog.” Michael continues, “He wanted to know how to take care of a dog in case he ever gets one as a pet. I taught him some things with my dog, Sterling. Now Branden has taught her how to jump for treats!”
Michael explains he has also learned something from being a Big. “It helps me to put things in perspective by looking at the world through the eyes of a child. It also has taught me the value of patience.” He goes on to explain, “Sometimes it’s a struggle to get him to call me back. However, I’ve discovered that Branden has a box where he keeps memorabilia from our times together. Just when I think he doesn’t care, he pulls something out from that box and it re-energizes me!” By the sound of it, Branden will have plenty of other things to add to that box throughout the coming years.
This Match Spotlight was originally published in our Big News newsletter.
