I chatted with my brother tonight. Yeah, I know. No big deal to most, but it's a big deal to me.
You see, I hate my brother. OK, not today, but I grew up hating my brother. He would annoy me, tackle me, abuse me, neglect me, and sneeze on me (just ask mom!) I wished he would go away. Then he did. He chose to defend our country in Desert Storm. I started to admire him, but held on to part of the hatred.
When he'd come visit, I'd make sure I got to see him, but I still held that grudge. Sometimes I'd feel antagonism where it may or may not have existed. Sometimes there was nothing, but I'd look for a reason to ignore him.
The last few times he came to visit (from Georgia) I tried pushing that behind me. It worked! I saw him as he is. He is Jim. Nothing more, nothing less. He is the bomb, and I'm better for knowing him. I can now instant message him, email him, and talk to him when he's here (about two times per year.) He has a lot to offer, and is an asset to this family.
Jim, dude, you're a good guy. I miss you, and am glad that I grew up. I hope that you are as happy as I am. I want to be a sister, like an adult sister should be. If you need something, anything, ever...let me know. I'm here, bro.
8 comments:
Congrats on making that connection! I wish I could be a grown-up like you and reach out to my older sisters, but I just can't. I really can't. Too much damage has been done.
Lucky brother. Will you be my sister?
What a coincidence: I love him too!
Well...um...thanks, I think...Hell, I didn't even realize there was a ever a problem. This is really nothing new, I'm usually oblivious to such things. It goes along with all the stuff you and mom seem to remember that I have no idea about. Compared to most folks I know now, me and you had it about as good as it could get coming up. Maybe that's what we do when we don't have anything traumatic to dwell on, just pick the worst thing that comes to mind and leave it as a chip on our shoulder. I'm not gonna say that there weren't times when I probably hated you as well, but nothing that lasted for any amount of time. Thinking back, the one thing you have nailed is the neglect part, because for the life of me, there just isn't a lot "brother/sister" stories that come to mind. Even now I will admit to being a sort of self-centered, luckily I've got folks around me that put up with it.
Here is the one story that comes to mind a lot, and always has. It was at the 40 acres in OG, so we were both very young. I was in trouble and in the room. Don't remember what for, or even what the inside of that house looked like. But for whatever reason, I was on lock down, and you were outside, jumping up to see through the window making a donkey "EEEEAAAAWWWW" sound. That shit was so damn funny, I still smile when I'm driving down the road and think about it.
But anyway, I'm glad we are cool now. I'm also pretty damn happy for the way things have been working out for you the last few years. I think you already know if you need something from the southern command, the phone is there beside you.
I think both my children inherited the "self-centered" stuff from me. All it takes is having somebody to put up with us. Looks like we've all got that!
Ha, ha...mom says your self centered too!!! AAAACCCHHHOOOO!!! (that was me sneezing in your general direction)
"Hey, I'm tellin'!"....."MOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!"
Gives hope to my heart that Bubba (16) and Bug (soon to be 6) will one day be warm and fuzzy toward each other and friends. Now if Mama can just live through the war! lol - Barbara
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