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mrdreamjeansThis isn't a wild tale of a tawdry night at a club specializing in fetishes, it's a story of how two brothers can be so different and yet so much alike. Yesterday was my brother's birthday. Jeff is six years younger than me, so it was only in our childhood and then recently as adults that we've spent any time with each other. We are very different men.
A good way to examine the differences is to look at how we celebrate our birthdays, more specifically what people give us as gifts. My brother's a big time hunter. In fact, last year when I needed his help in moving our folks into their new home, he went hunting seven weeks in a row...essentially a no-show. I've forgiven him, but I bust him, about his passion (I call it obsession) for hunting and shooting things, every chance I get.
This is Jeff's haul at the party last night: a Game Watcher... this is a motion detector camera which you strap to a tree. It records the time and takes pictures, night or day, of the game that come within its radius on your hunting lease; several pieces of camouflage clothing in Jeff's best color "mossy oak"; a John Jakes novel to read in the deer stand; a Braveheart DVD to remind him of why it is good to celebrate killing for a cause; a small bottle of doe pee, to pour on things to encourage bucks to walk right up to the slaughter and a grunt call.
A grunt call is an odd item that makes the same sound as a stag in rutting mode. (hmmm... I may have to get one of those:) Even my gift of a tee-shirt from the Haight became a gift on theme... it was a brown tee-shirt that said "The Grateful Dead...1985... Hershey, Pennsylvania... How Sweet it is...". My sister-in-law said, "See - the deer will be grateful to be dead." (sigh)..The whole family is hopeless....LOL!
For my birthday, I got theatre tickets, gift cards to Bed, Bath and Beyond and Nordstroms, DVDs of favorite comedies, books, CDs of show tunes and cash. If I talk theatre Jeff leaves the room; if he talks deer, it comes across to me as that buck "pulled a scrape", blah, blah...blah, blah... I try to pay attention, I really do.
What we have in common is our love for our family and how we approach being present in their lives and in the lives of our friends. My brother's a Republican, has his own company, is pretty conservative, but he's not narrow-minded and we just plain avoid politics. He's a strong provider and has always encouraged his sons and me to have a really close relationship...differences or not. I appreciate that. I love my deer-huntin' brother....:)
A couple of random bits:
One of the Crawford, Texas newspapers endorsed John Kerry for president. It said that they couldn't in good faith endorse "Shrub" (my choice of moniker:) because he had so mishandled the war in Iraq. Now that's taking a stand...right in Bush's own backyard. I find that refreshing and courageous!
Breaking news story: A bear ransacked a home and ate four pounds of chocolate. True. Contrary to rumor... I was not seen in the area:)
Last night was my final night to sleep in my own bed until December 20. I'm kind of sad about that. Tonight I'm back in Austin at my sister's; I fly out of here tomorrow, staying the weekend in DC and taking Amtrack to NYC on Sunday.
Today is the anniversary of moving my parents into their home. We didn't think that it would happen, especially after Dad's 2002 stroke that threw big wrenches into the process. But it happened and now a year of occupation is being celebrated on many levels.
Finally - I wrote about helping my twin nephews with their college applications for several hours last week. We had a great time. My brother and his wife handed me a thank-you card last night signed by all of them. Inside was a travel funds card with a substantial sum of money pre-paid. They just said they knew I could really use it. I'm still stunned and overwhelmed... and touched. It's one of my brother's and my hidden similarities... unexpected kindness. If you had been there last night, you would have seen the family resemblance:)
I have made a vow... next time Jeff wants to talk to me about doe pee, grunt calls and pulling a scrape, I'm going to surprise him and actually listen. Happy Birthday, Bro!....and thanks!
A good way to examine the differences is to look at how we celebrate our birthdays, more specifically what people give us as gifts. My brother's a big time hunter. In fact, last year when I needed his help in moving our folks into their new home, he went hunting seven weeks in a row...essentially a no-show. I've forgiven him, but I bust him, about his passion (I call it obsession) for hunting and shooting things, every chance I get.
This is Jeff's haul at the party last night: a Game Watcher... this is a motion detector camera which you strap to a tree. It records the time and takes pictures, night or day, of the game that come within its radius on your hunting lease; several pieces of camouflage clothing in Jeff's best color "mossy oak"; a John Jakes novel to read in the deer stand; a Braveheart DVD to remind him of why it is good to celebrate killing for a cause; a small bottle of doe pee, to pour on things to encourage bucks to walk right up to the slaughter and a grunt call.
A grunt call is an odd item that makes the same sound as a stag in rutting mode. (hmmm... I may have to get one of those:) Even my gift of a tee-shirt from the Haight became a gift on theme... it was a brown tee-shirt that said "The Grateful Dead...1985... Hershey, Pennsylvania... How Sweet it is...". My sister-in-law said, "See - the deer will be grateful to be dead." (sigh)..The whole family is hopeless....LOL!
For my birthday, I got theatre tickets, gift cards to Bed, Bath and Beyond and Nordstroms, DVDs of favorite comedies, books, CDs of show tunes and cash. If I talk theatre Jeff leaves the room; if he talks deer, it comes across to me as that buck "pulled a scrape", blah, blah...blah, blah... I try to pay attention, I really do.
What we have in common is our love for our family and how we approach being present in their lives and in the lives of our friends. My brother's a Republican, has his own company, is pretty conservative, but he's not narrow-minded and we just plain avoid politics. He's a strong provider and has always encouraged his sons and me to have a really close relationship...differences or not. I appreciate that. I love my deer-huntin' brother....:)
A couple of random bits:
One of the Crawford, Texas newspapers endorsed John Kerry for president. It said that they couldn't in good faith endorse "Shrub" (my choice of moniker:) because he had so mishandled the war in Iraq. Now that's taking a stand...right in Bush's own backyard. I find that refreshing and courageous!
Breaking news story: A bear ransacked a home and ate four pounds of chocolate. True. Contrary to rumor... I was not seen in the area:)
Last night was my final night to sleep in my own bed until December 20. I'm kind of sad about that. Tonight I'm back in Austin at my sister's; I fly out of here tomorrow, staying the weekend in DC and taking Amtrack to NYC on Sunday.
Today is the anniversary of moving my parents into their home. We didn't think that it would happen, especially after Dad's 2002 stroke that threw big wrenches into the process. But it happened and now a year of occupation is being celebrated on many levels.
Finally - I wrote about helping my twin nephews with their college applications for several hours last week. We had a great time. My brother and his wife handed me a thank-you card last night signed by all of them. Inside was a travel funds card with a substantial sum of money pre-paid. They just said they knew I could really use it. I'm still stunned and overwhelmed... and touched. It's one of my brother's and my hidden similarities... unexpected kindness. If you had been there last night, you would have seen the family resemblance:)
I have made a vow... next time Jeff wants to talk to me about doe pee, grunt calls and pulling a scrape, I'm going to surprise him and actually listen. Happy Birthday, Bro!....and thanks!
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Date: 2004-09-29 08:55 pm (UTC)I'd listen in too, even if boring, but I would also hope he would take the time to listen to you, instead of leaving the room.