As kids my dad took us to ‘the farm’ every weekend. We played-we worked-we got dirty. We did not get clean. There was no running water for the first few years we did this weekend trekking. We hauled our drinking and cooking water from ‘the city’ with us in five gallon water coolers. We did not waste water on washing faces. Hair. Or anything to do with hygiene. I’m pretty sure dad must have thought this was a good way to toughen us up. A little dirt won’t hurt us. Besides, when we get home on Sunday evening we can all take our showers, brush our teeth and be clean for school the next day.
I’m pretty sure dad was oblivious to the stench of four, five, maybe even six kids, that go two or three days without bathing. Or teeth brushing. He must have really loved us. Or, he had olfactory issues. I can’t imagine what a holiday weekend did for our odor producing abilities.
And.
Today is my brother’s birthday.
Which has absolutely nothing to do with the preamble ramblings above.
But, being his birthday I wanted to give him something.
A memory.
That’s what I will give him.
Yes.
I’ve been holding a grudge carrying it around for over 35 years. I thought I would share it with him on his birthday.
After one such weekend as described above we return home. By this time the oldest brother (birthday fella of today) didn’t have to get to go to ‘the farm’. So he didn’t have to load, unload, clean, put away three days of mess, filth and clutter. Nor did he have to carry three days of stink with him where ever he went.
I finished with my chores. I went up the steps, turned right in to the hallway to go get clothes from my bedroom so I could take a shower and brush my teeth when we passed in the hallway.
His gift to me that day as he recoiled and threw himself away from me on to the wall to create barrier and get air: “oh my God you stink! Take a shower and brush your teeth!!!”
Okay okay. Here’s the real gift to him…
For all of the years we have shared on this earth as brother and sister the above ‘memory’ is the absolute worst thing I can think of that he ever said or did to me. Considering two of the other brothers tried to tie me and my friends to a tree, and another brother tried to convince me I was adopted, and a couple of them used me and the other kids as target practice for crab apple throwing…
I think it’s a wonderful brother to have who’s only ‘fault’ in over forty years of brotherhood to me was to tell me the blatant (albeit obvious and I didn’t need it pointed out to me….) truth. If that’s as bad as it ever was…. I am one lucky sister.
Happy birthday brother.
I love you.
The only and best firstborn I ever had. Love you Louie!!!
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He’s certainly lovable!
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he didn’t even mention your direction challenged toe…he is a good brother! 😉
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He is super good!
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how blessed are you!
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🙂 Very. I am.
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ol 😉
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ol
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I’m thinking that is dereliction of duty for a brother not to have done more teasing than that to a little sister.
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I think there is an addendum saying if there is an abundance of brothers one can be less tormenting.
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My Sara’s brother tied her up once and forgot to let her go. She’s yet to let him live it down. Happy birthday to your brother. Did you ever get a casserole? A call? A text? Poor you!
Hugs,
Kathy
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I sent her a text to let her know I was dissing on her. It took her a few minutes to realize she ought to read my blog…. No casserole. 🙂 Thank goodness my knee is better! Thank you Kathy Not My Sister for checking on me! 😉 And I can totally feel Sara’s suffering. My brothers were ‘busted’ by the neighbor lady who was walking us home from “skylarks”. So they were foiled!!!!
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Indeed not the worst torment an older brother can inflict. If I were to offer one in similar fashion, it is, without a doubt, the unforgivable dorky pose he made me do for the sake of a photo. I remember his instructions and how I innocently complied, never imagining that he’d purposely direct me to contort my angelic, freckled face into that of a female Ernest. I only pray that it (the photo) has met with certain and irreversible destruction!!!! Happy Birthday Patrick!
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HAHAHAHAHA, I should use that picture!
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