Kate & Mike

Kate & Mike got married this weekend.  We had a blast with everyone – cousins, brothers, sisters, friends.  It is nice how everyone can slip into the familiar so easily.  Even though we only see each other periodically, I love that we are still great friends and that we can make each other laugh and think.

Things I Learned

These are some of the things I learned from my weekend away with my brothers and dad.

1)  We are still just kids who like hanging out with each other and playing.  When we were little and living back in Andover, we were each other’s best friend and playmate.  I remember being in the backyard, or the front yard, or MonkeyLand, with just one or three or four of my brothers and time seemed to stand still and fly by in an instant all at once.  We’d have GI Joes or Matchbox cars, or a wiffle ball and bat, or a kickball, or nothing at all but our imaginations.  The same quasi time jump/time skip happened over the weekend.  It was both standing still and moving at light speed.  We had toys (Pigs, fire, cornhole, beer!) and our imaginations.  We laughed out loud – sometimes too loud or too late.  We mocked, mimicked, rode, rowed, belched, burped, talked, lied, and created our own class of servant monkeys.

2) We are all adults and are handling our grown up lives responsibly, lovingly, and happily.  Periodically one at a time, discreet phone calls were made to wives and kids, silent text messages sent to say we made it and we miss those who live closest to us.   Stories about our lives – friends, frustrating jobs, economics, politics, health – and about lovely crazy kids, happy kids, thoughtful wives, filled the miles in the Man Van and hours around the cabin and campfire.

3) Even though we are miles and states apart, and even though we are weeks and months from visits, we are closer than ever.  Maybe my sappiness or emotions get the better of me sometimes, but I have to say that with each bit of history between us and behind us, the story of this brotherhood I am proud to be part of is one that defines a huge part of my identity and my life.  And I miss a lot of it.  And I treasure all of it.

4)  Monkeys doing human things would be both frightening and AWESOME!