my little brother

[justanotherjen]

I got to talk to my little brother today.  I'm so happy.  I haven't talked to him in...forever.  Usually when he calls he just talks to my dad or to no one at all because we're all busy.

I miss my brother and talking to him today just took me back to our younger days.  Like all the space and time between us just melts away and we're teenagers sitting on the porch just talking.

The last time I actually saw him was in July 2006 when he came home after my dad had his heart attack.  The last time before then was in August/September of 2000 after my mom died.  Yep, in the last 8 years I've seen my brother twice.  In the last 10 years I've seen him 3 times.

It was a great talk.  I learned he's still failing chem, hasn't had a steady girlfriend in 3 years, really wants to move to Portland (OR) but the major he wants is only offered in the town he is already in (Corvallis) and got his lip pierced (to go along with several ear piercings, his eyebrow and his nipple which was a little more info then I wanted to know, lol).

Did I mention my brother will be 30 in January.  I just love him to death.  He is and always will be my baby brother and one of my best friends.

Yep, that's my little brother...in 2006 at the age of 27.  Isn't he a cutie.

Yeah, he's a keeper (that's my son in the background--4 years old)

1987 at the age of 8.

Here he is in 1985 rocking the Knight Rider big wheel.  How cool was he with the striped socks...and that plastic watch.  He was only 6 so...I guess it's forgiveable.

Me and my brother in 1985.  He was 6 and I was 8.  I'm just too cool with that short hair cut and what is up with the pink coat...I HATE pink, lol.

[flowrchild77]

Aug. 13, 2008 at 11:11 AM

How cute!  Love the old pictures!  I don't remember the Knight Rider big wheels but would've loved it!  I had a Cabbage Patch Koosa, too.  My brother is four years older than me, and I can really relate to your story.  My brother moved about 7 hours away from me about two years ago.  We used to be best friends growing up.  We've kinda drifted apart over the years, but it never seems like we've drifted when we get back together.  I sure wish I could see him more!

[justanotherjen]

Aug. 13, 2008 at 12:08 PM

My brother moved over 2000 miles away.  He lives in Oregon and I live in Chicago.  He is poor.  I think poorer then we are.  He can't afford to fly home and even if we had some passes to give him (my husband works for Southwest Airlines and gets free passes a few times a year) he can't afford to take the time off of work. 

He told me he was hoping to come home for a visit this year but had to quit his full time job because it was interferring with school so now he's broke and looking for a 2nd job (he still has a part time job that he's had forever at a pizza place).  But he also said he'd rather visit while the kids are in school.  He's not a kid person and my kids were just all over him in 2006.  It was the first time they had ever met Uncle Ryan but he wasn't used to that.  He did pretty good, though.

He said his main goal in life right now is to graduate college before my dad dies (not that my dad is dying but it's ineviteble--he'll be 62 this year and has already had 1 heart attack).  And MAYBE find a new girlfriend to settle down with. He's had 2 serious girlfriends over the years (since he left home in 98) and both ended badly but he is still good friends with both of them.  In fact the one shares a birthday with me (well hers is the day after mine) and he still gets her an expensive gift every year.  I totally think he is still in love with her because he got into a huge fight with his roommate when the guy started dating my brother's ex (and he hadn't dated her in years).  Ahhh, young love, lol (yes, he's only 2 years younger then me and I'm being silly).

And a funny side note.  We grew up in Chicago (moved to this house when we were 12 and 10) but all of those pictures from the 80s were taken in Michigan, lol.  A lot of our childhood pictures were because we spent a lot of the holidays and most of the summer up there visiting my mom's family.

(Original Poster)

[GENN_FOX]

Aug. 13, 2008 at 2:04 PM

SOUNDS LIKE YOU REALLY MISS HIM  YOU SHOULD START CALLING HIM MORE AND TALKING ....ONCE THEY ARE GONE THERE IS NO GOING BACK

[TraceyBondurant]

Aug. 13, 2008 at 8:36 PM

You are holding a cabbage patch koosa in the last picture!  I had the exact same one!!!!

[MomOfTwo1978]

Aug. 14, 2008 at 9:55 AM

I love your Koosa!  I always wanted one!

[mommybug77]

Aug. 14, 2008 at 11:10 AM

Hey I know him lol

[justanotherjen]

Aug. 14, 2008 at 3:15 PM

For any that care my Cabbage Patch in the picture was called "Fluffy".  My brother had a full sized one (not just the little mini one he's holding) and his was called Kitty Jack...he named it himself.

(Original Poster)