Quick vacation update: We had a wonderful time at Disney on Monday, and Epcot yesterday. We are now getting ready to start the very very long journey home. Little Man woke up this morning with a fever, so this should be extra fun. I will update again soon, when time allows.
____________________I have a brother. "J". He's younger than I am, by less than 2 years. I think the world of him. In fact I think so highly of my brother that I suspect Bubblehead has a strange, but friendly sort of jealousy (for lack of a better word) for J. ("Everything he does is art.")
J and I, as I said, are very close in age, and when we were growing up, we moved around a lot. So there was a lot of changing schools, changing homes, changing friends. But I always had him, and he always had me. Of course we fought. (Oh we could fight!), but we were great friends. I'm happy to say that we still are, and nothing cheers me up quite like talking to my brother.
And since I'm talking about him, I will just mention here that I think he is one of the smartest, funniest people ever. If I need a smile, or some help, he's the guy to go to.
It is because of this that I chose to have my kids so close together. (My kids are 26 months apart, and J and I are 22 month apart. I have had thoughts since that perhaps I had my kids
too close together!) I think one of the greatest gifts I could give my kids is each other. I hope they grow up always loving each other (Even if sometimes it's just down deep inside.) I hope they talk on the phone regularly as adults, and play funny little games with each other. I hope that one day, when Bubblehead and I are gone, and they have families of their own, they will still get together, and sit and talk about when they were little - playing
Sally and Oregon, and that time she
covered his head in diaper cream, and all the other things they have yet to do together.
J, I love you, you know.
And Mom and Dad? Thanks.
(when I referenced it here) I will tell the story of the one time in my life that I was naughty. (My parents read my blog, so I'm sure they will attest to this - I was only naughty once. ;)
This happened when I was, oh... about six years old, and my brother would have been four. I had this lovely new package of markers. (Do you remember the thrill of having new crayons or markers when you were little?!) My brother and I (and my memories may be a little sketchy here, because let's face it, I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday. This was 24 freaking years ago!) sat at a little table downstairs with my new markers, and I proceeded to color his entire hand purple! The whole thing! Bright purple.
Needless to say my mother wasn't happy with me. My poor defenseless brother (the victim in all of this) had to take several long baths to soak the purple off his hand. As for me, my mom took my brand new markers away from me. I was heartbroken.
But you see, I was just a victim of the influence of evil children's programming. Does anyone remember the bit on Sesame Street where Bert's hand is purple? I don't remember why it was purple. The whole bit was something about him covering it up with a glove or something.... Anyway, it was this episode that inspired my "art".
There is a lesson to be learned here. Sesame Street is the devil's work - obviously. How else would such a sweet little girl be brought to reek such havoc on her little brother?
Oh, and just incase your question in all of this is the same as Ella's was, I don't know what became of the markers. My mom probably still has them somewhere. I'm sure she hesitates giving them back to me for fear that I might dye my husband's foot green. (Hey! That would be cool!!)
____________________We are now beginning day two of our journey. So far I've only had three thoughts of regret. Stay tuned.....
