Brother R
My brother is probably the coolest guy I know. He's eleven years older than me, he's married to one of the sweetest girls you'll ever meet, and we love each other unconditionally. I know it may sound strange, but I love the age gap between the two of us. I think that if we were closer in age, we probably wouldn't get along as well as we do. We never really had the sibling rivalry, he had ten years, and eight months with Mom and Dad, without me, and by the time I go off to college, I will have had ten years, and eight months with Mom and Dad, without him. And the times that we shared Mom and Dad, were a blast.
Some people may think that it's strange, but I never called my brother by his real name. And even now I seldom use his real name. He has always been Brother, and Brother he will always be. The first time I actually called him by his first name, I couldn't believe that I had called him R, instead of Brother. My hand flew over my mouth, and I stared at my mom in utter horror. To me, it was like I had said a cuss word.
We joke around all the time, and I told him that when I have kids (in the far, FAR future) he will be known as "Uncle Brother". He just laughs and shakes his head, he knows what's in store for him. I remember when Brother left for college, I was only seven, but I was devastated. I bawled for such a long time. And then, as idiotic as it may sound, I went out to where his car had always been parked, with a little Ziploc baggie, and I crammed that thing full of sand that his car had sat on top of. My mother told me that I was being ridiculous, that it was only sand and that I could go out anywhere and get it. I told her that it was special sand, and I kept that thing for five years. I think I actually slept with it once.
My brother was gone for what seemed like an eternity. After college (he went to a special art school in Arizona) he went off to Atlanta, Georgia. I thought for sure that he was never going to come back. But guess what? He did. But only long enough to meet and fall in love with J.
Now, since I'm being completely honest here, I always liked J. She was nice, intelligent, and a probation officer, so I KNEW she could keep my brother in line. However, I was as jealous as a green eyed monster when it came to her. I did NOT under any circumstances, want to share with someone else. I was the only girl in his life, and I wanted to keep it that way!
Before they got married, they asked me if I would be a bridesmaid. It was then that I realized that I wasn't losing Brother, I was gaining a sister. And I bawled during their wedding. They didn't stay in Wyoming long, they actually ended up moving to Atlanta, AGAIN. I was kinda upset, I didn't want my brother to live so far away. However, I HAVE found a couple of perks.
First of all, it has become a tradition, I've gone out and seen them every summer since they've left. Granted, there's only been two of them, but I always have a blast. They were the ones that introduced me to my first Six Flags. The three of us have gone together to Six Flags Over Georgia three times. We go and eat, ride the rides, and, of course, SCREAM!
They also took me to my first Hooters. I know, it sounds funny, and I probably would've had more fun if I was a 15 year old MALE, but, I didn't care, I still had a blast! And, I also got myself a Hooters shirt (which I wore the first day of school).
Besides the ultra fun vacations, I've also found another reason why I don't mind Brother and J living so far away.
You see, little ol' me has finally gotten a boyfriend, and Mom and Dad is bad enough. I REALLY don't need my brother scaring him away either!
The bottom line is this, I love my brother, and I love my sister-in-law, and nothing, and NO ONE can change that.