My Little Brother.

So here is this week's Friday Interview on Sunday. I'm sure this is not the last time you'll see this...

And I'm so excited for this one because G is one of the greatest people on earth. And I had a blast interviewing him even though between his kids and my kids playing on the swing set in their basement (that's right, I said swing set IN their basement- coolest house on the block), I got a massive headache. And then he would make me laugh. And then my head hurt even more. But it still was the best hanging with my little brother again- like the old times!

Me: I hear you are now on Twitter. What is your Twitter name?
G: @garrettdrose
Me: What is your latest Tweet?
G: How do I find that? Just a second...
@taylorannrose wow... How cool is it that your older brother follows you on Twitter. #bestbrother
Me: What was it like being my little brother?

G: Ummm... that's a tough question. Let's just say, growing up it was very hard to do anything I wanted to do. And if I EVER made changes to the game, the game was over.

Me: Wow, your parents must have been so bossy and controlling... Just kidding I know I was super bossy and controlling- good thing I'm not anymore! Looking back, I honestly think you were the greatest little brother ever- How did you put up with me?
G: I had my best friend next door- Berk Frei. And I think I threw a remote control at you once.
Me: Ya, I remember that. That was close... to hitting my face. I remember those St. George days. We did everything together- building forts in the desert, riding bikes- and gymnastics. Remember when you could do the splits?
G: I still can.
Me: Prove it.
G: Sorry, I gotta phone call. Hello! This is Garrett.

(Pause while he takes a phone call- some guy wants to buy my parents furniture he is selling on KSL)

Me: So, back to the gymnastics thing. Some football players do a little ballet on the side- you went the gymnastics route- both teach you to point your toes. Either way, you were amazing at football. What position did you play?
G: I played All-Star... Left Tackle on offense and Left Tackle on defense.
Me: Favorite part about football.
G: Running someone over at full speed.
Me: Not the guys, or working as a team huh?
G: My team sucked. Victories had to come in my personal battles.

Me: Remember your Freshman year when Provo hadn't won a game in like 3 seasons and you guys won and we rushed the field?

G: Ya, that was almost as embarrassing as when BYU fans rushed the field after beating Utah St.

Me: When did you first hurt your shoulder?

G: When I was a kid and the babysitter twirled me around and pulled it out of socket.

Me: So it always bothered you?

G: Ya, even when I started lifting as a freshman, I didn't have the same strength in my upper body as I did in my short, squatty legs. Thanks Mom.

Me: So when did you have your first surgery?

G: The summer after my junior year.

Me: And then what happened?

G: The doctor used a pain pump that gave me a staff infection that destroyed my entire shoulder- cartilage, bone, bone space, joint space.

Me: But you played your entire senior year that way before you found out.

G: I would compensate by hitting people with my head- that caused a few concussions. That could be why I'm 27 and work at the DI.

Me: So you went from being recruited by BYU, Utah, Utah St., Oregon, Washington and thinking you could play in the NFL to getting a shoulder replacement and never being able to play football again. What got you through that?

G: I think family was the main thing and a few really good friends. And ultimately all of this helped me decide to go on a mission.

Me: And you served in...

G: Arkansas, Little Rock Mission.

Me: Will you PLEASE do your impersonation of the preacher?

G: I can't do that one. It will scare the kids. But it sounded a little like Rick Perry's pastor.

Me: How about a movie line... You are the best with those- you and Brad. You guys were hilarious. I would sit and listen to you both and just cry from laughing so hard. You really were brothers from- what did you used to say?

G: Well, mom used to say we were supposed to be brothers, but Heavenly Father knew that one mother couldn't afford the food bill.

Me: It's true, you guys even looked alike- My favorite picture ever is when I'm standing in between you and Brad- I am looking petite.

G: Ya, That's a lot of people's favorite picture.

Me: Brad passed away when you were on your mission. How did you find out?

G: Mom and Dad called and told me.

Me: What was it like losing your best friend like that?

G: The hardest thing I had ever had to deal with. It was even harder when I got home from my mission because we had done everything together. It shook my confidence being on my own like that.

Me: I remember you told me there was a talk or book that helped you. What was it?

G: Spencer W. Kimball's talk "Death: Tragedy or Destiny?" I had read so much and nothing made sense until I read that. It put it all together. Being on my mission helped me so much- if I hadn't been there, I would have really struggled with it.

Me: You still are really close to Brad's family- you and Brooke even lived next door to them for a long time.

G: Thanks to Kevin Markham I know a lot of things about grapes. 

Me: Speaking of Brooke, how did you snatch her?

G: I caught her in a vulnerable time- she had just gone through a broken engagement and I swooped in.

Me: Hey, 95% of love is timing.

G: "96% of the time, it works every time." -Anchorman

Me: And you have two boys: Bradley- named after your best friend and Calvin- named after your favorite comic book.

G: But Calvin has the middle name- Kawika- means David in Hawaiin.

Me: That makes sense because you are Hawaiin. Wait a minute... do you have any Polynesian blood?

G: No, but I'm the size of a Polynesian and I'm very laid back like my Island Brothers and I love me some Kalua Pork.

Me: The one thing I admire the most about you is your compassion and love for people- especially people you don't even know. I think you were just born that way, but how did you become so good at helping others?

G: Once I realized that I could do this as a job, it gave me a passion for helping people. It's what I enjoy doing most.

Me: But even as a kid I remember you befriending EVERYONE in the neighborhood. When we couldn't find you, I had to go to EVERY house because you would hang out with anyone- young or old. I think I admire this quality so much because I am not good at this.

G: That's not true. You are very thoughtful.

Me: That's not true, but thanks for saying it. And just to prove you are the best little brother out there, you made my WEDDING CAKE. Seriously, I loved that cake! Now on to favorites! Food-

G: (long pause) Let's see, it's easier to list the two foods I don't like- dark chocolate and figs.

Me: Does that include Fig Newtons?

G: Yes.

Me: Music

G: Bob Marley- Reggae

Me: Color

G: Green. Go Bulldogs.

Me: Movie

G: Christmas Vacation

Me: Sibling

G: No comment

Me: OK, sister

G: Still no comment

Me: Vacation

G: Lake Powell

Me: So you're not really Hawaiin- you are Navajo! Favorite Temple

G: St. George

Me: Place to Waterballoon

G: Coming down Grandview Hill, but we used mustard bombs, not waterballoons

Me: Tie

G: The blue paisley one I bought from a Russian Lady on the side of the road in Arkansas

Me: DI find

G: A Masonic Bible form the early 1800's valued over $600,000

Me: BYU moment

G: Watching the game with Brad in Chad Bunn's office because the seats were too small for us

Me: Recipe

G: Recently Acquired Caramel Apples

Me: And I can tell you that those apples are GOOD. So is the leftover caramel in a bowl, but if you eat too much of it- you will feel like puking- at least that's what I've heard.

Thanks so much G! I love you, and I'm so lucky to be your big sister. Sorry about when we were in high school and I kept bleaching you hair because I thought that was cool. I hope that's not the reason it's falling out! :) Love you- you are the #bestbrother

If you have any questions for G, post them and I will ask him for you.

Maybe I will Tweet them to him.

Just kidding- don't know how. I'm bad at Twitter.

And- check out my favorite posts about G.

here,

here,

here,

and here.