Fortunate Son

As anyone who knows me would guess, I am my parents' favorite child. Anyone who has met my only sibling, Lisa, however, would be positively sure I am the favorite. Lisa and I are both well aware of my most-favored-child status. And we're cool with it. We even joke about it, with me doing something genius and then saying, "That's why I'm Mom and Dad's favorite!" and Lisa pretending to get upset and producing incredibly convincing-looking tears.

Part of the reason I'm my parents' favorite is that I've known them eight years longer than Lisa has. Plus, as a male, I...