Happy to be a Brother

Paul-
I often write about how much I miss American food, my dog and my family and I truly miss all of those in no particular order. Just kidding, I miss my family the most. But I would like to talk about my brothers because honestly, and genetically, I have the most in common with these two guys. I love them both and I say that now because I know we never said it growing up to each other. We would rather say the things most brothers say to each other growing up…

“I’m telling mom.”
“Don’t tell mom.”
“I would rather ride bikes with a girl than with you.”
“Stop (smacking/touching me/looking at me/farting/talking!)”
“Shut up!” -We would get in huge trouble for that one if mom heard that.
“That’s my shirt!”
“Mom, Nathan peed on me!” -Jonathan and I both got to say this.

I remember that I had no fear for anyone at school except Jonathan. I knew no one would pick on me because of him but, at the same time, I had to appease the brother for his protection. Making Jon happy usually meant not talking too much and tagging along for all his experiments with things that would hurt us, i.e. the go-kart.

Mom bought a two seat go-kart from Alex’s parents down the street and it was awesome! Essentially the go-kart was four five inch wheels attached to a one inch metal frame with a five horse power engine on the back. It worked about fifty percent of the time we had it and driving it would usually end in injury. Jonathan liked to tweak things, and he still does but with greater success. How do you make a two seat go-kart hold more people? Screw a piece of plywood next to the very hot engine to crouch on. It was good in theory but in practice on a sharp turn the rider’s derrière would end up being burned by the engine or getting stuck between the tire and frame…both happened to me. Then there was the time Jonathan forgot to attach the breaks before driving up to the gas station for gas. I was riding in the passenger seat and was instructed to hold on to the gas can at all costs. Well, neither of us thought too much about what the results of our next actions would be. Jonathan told me he would turn in a circle until it stopped moving and I held on to the gas can…in retrospect, seatbelts in the front would have been much better than a piece of plywood on the back. I flew out and rolled until I stopped. Bloody, bruised but still holding on to the gas can, I told him I would walk home.

Nathan was unequivocally the most annoying part about growing up other than interactions with girls. I followed Jonathan’s example and let a bully know on the bus one time that if he bullied Nathan he bullied me. So we took care of each other outside of the home, but inside was rough. I was the middle child so when the three of us were in the house, I never got my own room. I always lived with Jonathan or Nathan. I am sure Nathan has become a shining example of cleanliness in his time at college, but growing up he was filthy. I could never understand why anyone would step over or a mess when they could pick it up. Nathan was content sleeping in a bed filled with toys and food he snuck from the kitchen. This included a half-eaten wiener he forgot about until we found it six months later under his bed. But my best memories come from when we shared a bed.

I don’t know if he thinks of this much…but the kid managed to pee on both his brothers and get away with it. During his potty-training days he went through a phase where he went “number 1” outside like the dogs did. This included one ill-fated day as Jonathan was flying a kite and not paying attention to the two-foot menace dropping pants and peeing on his leg. I have no idea how my parents could discipline him when they wanted to laugh so hard. While sharing a room, at one point, Nathan and I had to share a bed and that’s when the little pee-ninja got me while I was sleeping. I woke up to wet pajamas and Nathan sitting on the other side of the bed cross-legged and smiling at me.

But for all the things we did together my favorite memories that I have of us are when we would sit down and talk. The older we get, the more it happens. Physically, other than hairlines and their noses, we don’t have much in common but we know we’re brothers. I am proud of my brothers and how hard each of them works. I know Jonathan will always work until the job is done and I know Nathan will stay up until his homework is done. Hope all is well.

From Japan
Paul