Pronounced "I"AN, not "E"AN

"Sometimes being a sister is even better than being a superhero."

I was a 5 year old only-child when I found out that I was going to have a little brother or sister. I remember hoping for a little sister so I could braid her hair and dress her up and share secrets and do all the things that sisters do. Instead, I got a little brother. One of the first things I learned as an older sister was manipulation...yes, I found ways to dress him up in dresses and braid his hair (when possible) in exchange for money that (as he likes to tell people) I used to take from his own piggy bank to bribe him with (although I don’t remember doing anything thatconniving). I will admit that I wasn’t always the nicest big sister, and I know now that one of the greatest lessons in having a little brother was the letting go of self-centeredness (among the wondrous attainment of skillz such as learning how to beat-box, freestyle rap and drive a jet-ski…Thanks bro! J).

Ian Edward Truscott (thankfully not Glenn Edward Truscott Jr., the fifth) was born on June 16^th, 1988. (My parents like to say they named us "I"an and Hana (not "E"an and Hannah) to teach us to speak up for ourselves.) He was the cutest darn kid I ever did see, fearless and full of heart. When he finally stopped crying from dairy-induced ear infections and learned to keep up with his big sis, he was actually kind of fun to have around. I’m pretty sure all my best girlfriends have at one point or another staked a marriage claim on him (you know who you are! And just so you know, Ian has found himself a wonderful Montana gal, Ms. Whitney Rose and is no longer on the market). Ian even managed to win over the hearts of Benedictine nuns at the monastery in Cottonwood, Idaho where his godmother lives. If I recall, there was a point in Ian’s early years where he would confidently respond to inquiries of “what do you want to be when you grow up?” with a sincere reply of: “I want to be a nun!”

Two weeks ago, Ian graduated from the University of Montana in Missoula with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Wilderness and Civilization (for which he had to endure a variety of backpacking trips and survival trials in the mountainous Montana wilderness). While his degree will not get him into the nunnery, it did help him land his current job as General Manager of TheButtercup Café and Market http://www.thebuttercupmarket.com/, a new Missoula business devoted to selling local food and fare (located near the corner of University and Helen at the site of the old Freddie’s Feed and Read for all those who want to check it out!). As the owner’s right-hand-man, Ian seems to be thriving in his role, making connections with local farmers and ranchers, and quickly establishing a natural rapport with the market’s customers, among a multitude of other responsibilities. In his spare time, Ian has been exploring all that Montana has to offer, from hiking into mountain hotsprings and white-water rafting with his new raft, to hunting, fly-fishing and backpacking every chance he gets. While I have been off gallivanting around the world, Ian has been exploring the wonders of the Northwest while cultivating an in-depth appreciation for the local world through both his work and play. I am so proud of my brother!

The most memorable moments with Ian are innumerable, from his squirrel hunting days around the age of 4 with his toy bow and arrow and his talent show debuts juggling scarves in elementary school (and in airports), to his teenage years of extreme sports, stitches and broken bones. Cliff jumping and spontaneous roadtrips have been a highlight of the past few years, but something tells me the best memories are yet to come! Two weeks ago, Ian took me on a vanagon road trip and backpacking trek to an undisclosed hot-spring location he had happened upon as a freshman in college. After a steep hike in and a glorious camp-stove meal of mac n’ cheese (and fireball whiskey), we hit up the hot spring at dusk. Sitting there in the natural hot pool, serenely suspended on a steep hillside in the midst of a rushing snow-melt river, I looked out over the breathtaking ravine we had just hiked up and couldn’t help but SMILE. Thinking back through all the years of sibling-hood, I am so grateful to have a brother! In fact, at this point I can’t imagine what life would have been like with a sister. (New pics of Ian’s graduation and our backpacking trip are posted: http://htnyc.blogspot.com)

Ian, you are amazing in so many ways (and no, not because you’re related to me, lol); you are truly a GOOD man and a quality human being to the core. I hope that someday I will find a man who treats me as well as you treat all those you encounter. Congratulations on your graduation! And THANK YOU for being my brother.

Love you more!

-Seister