• Aug. 4, 2006
Family, Family, Family
Well, today is the day! It has been six years since my brothers, their families, my parents, and I with my brood have been in one place at the same time. Now, we have all seen each other on and off during that time, we just haven't been all together. In fact, the last family picture I have, I was pregnant with Kevin.
It was interesting growing up the youngest and only girl out of three. Since there are a few years in between us, we were never really into the same things at the same time, or ever. The house we grew up in had a partition dividing the dining room from the living room. My brothers used to chase me around it, so I would wear out and not bug them. I was real good at the bugging part. They often got me back by making me their slave friendly helper.
I loved, and still do, the beginning of the school year. As a child nothing could beat new school supplies, new clothes, meet the teacher, helping my mom set up her classroom, seeing friends after summer break, you name it I loved it. There was one thing, however that I didn't love. When teachers would go down their class list and take attendance, they would always pause at my name. One of two questions, or sometimes both, were to follow. The first was somewhat harmless, "does your dad work for the school district?" Answering that one was a breeze. It was an easy yes. It's the other question that I dreaded each year.
"Do You Have An Older Brother?"
It's not that answering that question was incredibly difficult, but the answer would greatly have an impact on how that teacher viewed me. You see, teachers had two very different experiences with my brothers. My oldest brother was mostly harmless with a good attitude. My other brother, however, was a vastly different story. It's always the middle child, isn't it?? If there was a poster child for ADHD, he would have been a perfect candidate, but this was way back before ADHD was the thing to be. He was never really cruel in the things he did, just highly impulsive. Repeatedly. I think it was his second grade teacher that retired mid-year instead of toughing it out. This was a lady that had been teaching for many years.
Since my older brother claims no memory of the infamous "beanhead" incident (but nonetheless subjected me to horrendous music from the seventies and early eighties ... Bread anyone??) I will pin the beanhead efforts on brother number two.
Since I am not often around Ron, I realized this morning I have gotten weak in my, "must stay on toes" mantra I chant when he is around. This morning the phone started ringing before I was awake. When I looked at caller ID it was him. He was freaking out on the other line saying that he missed his flight from Corpus Christi to Houston. He had overslept. As I am jumping out of bed somewhere in the deep dark recesses of my mind came a warning. So I happened to say something along the lines of "is this a joke", but used irritated sister language. When he started laughing, I yelled "DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS HERE??" Apparently that was not a concern to him.
He was already in Houston waiting for my nieces to arrive at the airport since they are flying out together. He had children very young so they always get funny looks when the girls (20 & 21) call him dad. My oldest brother and his family drove in last night from Colorado. I am excited beyond excitement.
It is sobering to think that this could possibly be the last time we are all together with my dad functioning as well as he is. Then I stop and think that that could be true of anyone in any situation. I am grateful that we are getting this opportunity to be together, before we go back to Mayo next week for more tests and appointments.
Tonight we are having a joint Dora the Explorer birthday party for my dad who will be 73 next week, my sister-in-law Michelle and my Jordyn who will be turning three. The Dora theme was her idea. I have fun crafts and party hats for everyone to make. I wonder when the last time my brothers made crafts at a birthday party??
And aside from all the activities planned I will be working on revenge. Which in my book is allowed since I have already told my brother that he should be very afraid.
Comments
• Aug. 10, 2006
Untitled Comment
Posted by Leigh2
I hope everyone had a great time! Post soon to let us know how everything went...I love it when the whole family gets together like that. Mine only does it for Christmas. :o(
• Aug. 16, 2006
Untitled Comment
Posted by OreoSouza
I'm the oldest so I don't have an older brother.
But my brother who is just a year younger than me subjected me to Bread as well. He was younger but bigger. Bread. Ugh.
I laughed heartily at his joke on the phone. I find that kind of thing hilarious. Which is why I do it to my siblings all the time. They do not find me nearly as amusing as I find myself, which I daresay is true of your brother as well
