Editor's Pick
OCTOBER 14, 2009 10:39AM
Rate: 12
bookend brothers: circa, retro
My older brother, sibling and good friend, will celebrate his 31 million minute birthday. As little kids, he's the one who got me out of parental jail more times than I can count. As the charismatic Tuba player in high school, he also paved the way for me to be 2nd chair French Horn in the orchestra, which led to meeting The Geek.
My younger brother, also my good friend, celebrates his 21 million minute birthday. Born when I was a 13, he was my first experience in diaper changing, and I can safely say Pampers were not invented a minute too soon. There probably isn't a memory my little brother has about me that does not include The Geek. He was but a baby when The Geek and I became smitten teenagers.
I certainly hope my little brother doesn't remember us gating him in the playroom downstairs while the teenage Geek and I were, um, upstairs, listening for the garage door, warning us a parental unit was on the way home. The sound of the door meant 45 seconds to make the scene look like we were bored babysitters. Just a guess, but I don't think the parents were fooled much of the time. It also probably didn't help that the little baby brother started speaking rather early on. Oh, the stories he would try to tell. Fortunately I was an excellent listener and um, coach.
The older brother was obsessively fashion-forward in high school. On a good day when he would leave the house early, I could sneak into his room and borrow a cool sweater to wear when the baggy look was de rigueur. I still remember the blue shirt with the polka dots, or maybe it was the tie? I wonder if he realizes when it went missing that his little sister had been the snitch?
As bookends go, I could not have been more lucky. The older brother teaches me that no matter how old we get, we are still younger than our parents at any age. This is a concept that, believe me, matters as one gets older. We often giggle thinking of our parent's attire at our given age. Our mom wore Buster Brown socks and tie-up sensible shoes with a varying array of housecoats, complete with tiny ruffle at the top. Our dad pretty much lived in leisure pants and shirts.
My little brother teaches me the important things about family and faith. We share the leisure-pants father, but not the housecoat mother. My stepmother, his mom, would never ever wear a housecoat, thankfully. And she gets kudos for trusting me with a baby brother back when I was a disagreeable teenager. Although we don't share a biological mother, this little brother, the Rabbi in the family, would make both matriarchal mavens very proud.
I am a lucky sister to be bracketed by these two bookend brothers. From the tome stuck in the middle, I wish you both a very happy 52 million minute birthday!
Cake, anyone?
Extra -large cake?
Comments
Wow, as you know, I just wrote a happy birthday post to my sister, but you have bookend birthday brothers. Health and good wishes to all. They sound just great, and you're a lucky tome indeed!
That's alottamath. Happy birthday to your bookend brothers, lucky to have you as a sister, I figure. I don't even want to know how many candles are on that cake.
Happy birthday to the brothers!
That makes me 7 trillion minutes. Thanks so much for ruining my day. (Love the piece, can't resist the sarcasm)
R
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Lea, your post was perfect and inspirational. I hope Carol loved it. Thanks for the good thoughts. I am indeed a lucky girl.
Kathy - yep. alottamath. that would be a lot of candles too! Thank you.
Chuck - a good month for birthdays, yes?
John - you are totally not old enough to be my great great grandfather 9 times removed. If you think the minutes are daunting, take a look at the seconds...and they keep ticking. your sarcasm is always entertaining! Anytime.
Kathy - yep. alottamath. that would be a lot of candles too! Thank you.
Chuck - a good month for birthdays, yes?
John - you are totally not old enough to be my great great grandfather 9 times removed. If you think the minutes are daunting, take a look at the seconds...and they keep ticking. your sarcasm is always entertaining! Anytime.
wonderful! I like the million minute b-day idea. When I was in my 40's, I heard someone say they weren't 43, but "thirty-thirteen" and thought that was also a great alternate way to count your age.
This makes me want to cry. Some people have all the luck!
Wonderful! Happy Birthday Brothers!
I only celebrate centennials. It's much cheaper.
Thanks for all the great comments. Both bookends have read it and so far, are still talking to me!
Happy birthday, guys.
Happy birthday, guys.
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