Growing up with Mike as my older brother gave him the unique position of acting as a sort of trailblazer of what life could and probably would be like for me in the not-so-distant future. Many of life's big changes and steps were previewed to me by Mike living them first, then handing them off to me to be tried three years later. First communion, starting high school, learning to drive, going away to college - all of these new experiences and new responsibilities never seemed too scary or caused me too much anxiety because Mike had gone through them first, and he did them while having so much fun and with such an infectious enthusiasm that made me realize I really didn't need to be scared, and that I was excited to try it after all.

Of course, Mike realized that being the big brother carried certain responsibilities, and that being in a position to dish out lessons in life's hard-won wisdom sometimes allowed him certain powers over me. When we were small, I remember him instructing me very carefully that pressing the red button marked "Record" on our dad's tape recorder would cause it to explode. For months afterwards I handled that tape recorder with kid gloves for fear of accidentally blowing myself up. As Mike's little brother, having some of his lessons not turn out as they originally were taught just seemed to add to the mystery, that life was something that I had to figure out too, sometimes, just like he did before me.

I always loved his kooky sense of humor and he was very gifted on the piano starting in the second grade, but looking back it's hard to know exactly when I really began to be proud that Mike was my brother, and of how special and talented Mike was in all other areas of life. Early into high school it didn't take me long to realize that I needed to work very hard at things that most times Mike had somehow made to look effortless. From straight A's and lead dramatic roles, to student council and even perfect attendance, Mike never seemed to sacrifice one set of goals to achieve another.- they were all there for the taking, you just had to apply yourself and do it, and always remember to have fun along the way.

Of all the things that I ever learned from Mike's teachings as big brother, that life could be experienced in so many different fun ways was perhaps the greatest.

After high school he continued on with many awards and scholarships, accolades and degrees, and they were all done in the same fashion, with his characteristic nonchalance and efficient determination.

I was sometimes asked by my friends and teachers if it was difficult to be in the shadow of such a successful older sibling, if I felt an overwhelming pressure to succeed because of the precedent that Mike had set. Of course, I never felt any pressure from him to attain the same goals as he did - that was the wonder of Mike. He had a way of sharing his talents so completely that his accomplishments felt like your own. His worldwide travel adventures, his on-stage band antics, his academics and research challenges, - I always felt that there was a little bit of me right there doing everything with him, and just for a few moments, through pictures and stories, phone calls and emails, I would see the world through his eyes. What I saw was a world where there was nothing that was not worth experiencing, if only just once.

Mike was and always will be a treasure that I felt so proud to [be] so close to. I often found myself hoping that someone who didn't know Mike would ask me about him, so I could try to recount just a sliver of his amazing approach to life. But, if someone did ask, I would discover then, as I do now, how difficult it is to encompass and encapsulate Mike with just words. It’s like trying to paint beautiful portraits with only a few crude colors.

Mike was someone who was described by your experiences with him. That is why the best descriptions of Mike that we'll ever have live on in our hearts and memories forever.

Of all the things I'll ever do in my life, of all the things I'll strive to accomplish, the one thing that I will always be most proud of, the thing that will forever bring me the most joy, was simply that I was his brother. Nothing has ever seemed so important to me.

Bob Macon