Monday, June 2, 2008

Tootsie's Broham is Totally Boss

My brother and his family are here visiting from Virginia. They are in my house right now. Here. Downstairs. Every time one of us travels to visit the other, we spend the months in between talking about when we'll see each other again. My brother? The most awesomest brother ever to have lived in the history of siblings. My brother? The funniest person I know. He's also? My bestest buddy. That, of course, was not always the case. Except that it was but not. There was a time when I beat him on a daily basis which also included some pinning down and threatening him with dangling spit because that's what big sisters do. And sometimes they follow through on that threat. I would occasionally fart on him. Or just up and outright belch in his face and blow for emphasis. I also had him convinced that Mom loved me more. Sometimes, big sisters are assholes. But, even though there was all of that, I also had his back. I was his protector from bullies and demonstrated that through physical combat with his enemies. We had each other's back when it came to keeping out of trouble with the mom. Then when puberty hit for him he turned into kind of a douche and we hardly spoke until I moved from home. That simple act was the catalyst that changed our relationship forever. One full of love, respect, and friendship.



When he graduated from high school he broke my heart joined the navy and moved three thousand miles away. I was the only family member to attend his boot camp graduation in Florida [an aside: if you ever have the chance to visit a military base, I highly recommend it what with all of the MEN IN UNIFORM swarming the premises. It helps if you're 21 and single to boot]. Then he was transfered up to Virginia where during the course of his service he met the woman who would become his wife one of my best friends. Wasn't that thoughtful of him? He warned her that I'd never once liked any girl he'd ever introduced me too and he wasn't lying even a little bit. He had this poor girl scared shitless to meet me face to face. Then one day, while on leave, he came home to visit and flew his new girlfriend across the country to meet the family. And then I showed up [cue a little diddy called "The Imperial March" and picture Darth Vader if that helps you hear the music]. And it was one of those rare experiences where you meet someone for the first time but also can't imagine having never known them. [Now imagine "The Imperial March" coming to a screeching halt] I loved her from the start.

After his time was served they moved out to California. For the next seven years we spent several days and/or nights a week at each other's homes. Did I mention his wife is also a kick-ass hairdresser? She's a master stylist at a swanky salon and if you have a few hundred dollars lying around to drop on your hair then she's the girl for you because even she admits she can't afford to see her own self. When she was living in California, and before she leased her own suite in a salon in Studio City, she worked for a man called Allen Edwards. You may remember him as the man who originated that unfamiliar 70's hair cut named FARRAH FAWCETT. And while she was working there I would get discounts on my hair needs and totally free when she had her own place. Then my brother and his wife decided they wanted to buy a home. You may not know this about California but in order to buy a home you have to have something banks like to call HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE. So, after seven years here on the west coast, they packed it up and moved back to Virginia where they bought a beautiful home for half of the aforementioned California requirement.



And now they're here. And I'm going to do my level best not to think about Saturday morning when they'll be leaving. I'm going to enjoy every minute that they are here and hug and snurffle my nephew as much as he will allow. I will still post but they may be light. Which, from what I gather with all you Google Reader peeps out there, may be a little bit of a blessing.

33 comments:

Kalynne Pudner said...

That is one totally kick-ass cute pic! (The SIL and nephew-snurffling, I mean. Okay, then, both of them.)

And hurray for housing prices in Virginia, which were too high for us to move back in '01 when we had the chance, an accident of timing that has forever scarred me. As far as my Alabama home-owning self is concerned, California doesn't even exist in real life. It's just a classification for some of my bloggy friends to fit into.

Manager Mom said...

I'm an only child so all of my terrorizing of other children was wrought on my cousins. It was no less fun, but much less frequent.

And, um, they don't actually speak to me anymore...

Enjoy the visit!

Kristi said...

I love it! and them! I just may snurffle all of you!

Suburban Correspondent said...

Well! This gives me hope that my children might even speak to each other as adults. Thank you!

Karen said...

How wonderful that your SIL is also a best friend - that makes things so easy.

And you ain't a-kiddin about visiting a military base. When Sam and I were engaged I went to visit him on base and there ain't nothing like making your man appreciate you like a bazillion other men ogling his girl. And she loving every second of it because they're in uniform. *sigh*

calicobebop said...

Snurffle the baby! So adorable! I'm sure ya'll will have a great time!

Anonymous said...

Ah, poor Tootsie! This is when our global and mobile society really stinks.

Anonymous said...

Snurffle = good!!!!

Ann said...

Aw, what a sweet post. And, love it that it was sweet - while also still including farting - classic Tootsie.

Your SIL looks like Robin Wright, don't you think? Gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

That stinks that they moved back to the east coast. Free professional hair dresser in the family? Man, you just got all the luck. Have a great time with your bro.

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Mrs. G. said...

This was the sweetest Tootsie Post ever!

Jennifer S said...

So sweet, and the snurffling, too. I hope you have a great week.

Marmarbug said...

Awww! Cute baby!!! And VA rocks. (being a lifer living here) and so does the Navy, (being a brat growing up)

Eve Grey said...

so sweet. now i mis my bro.

Anonymous said...

Aww, I love it. My bro and I have such a similar relationship. The whole farting thing being an integral part.

Unknown said...

TAKE ME TO FLORIDA!!!!

AutoSysGene said...

Oh, I'm glad to hear you guys are enjoying your visit! Have fun and post when you can!

Minnesota Matron said...

Enjoy, my dear!

OHmommy said...

I need my bro to find a woman like your SIL. She is darling.

Enjoy them! ;)

scargosun said...

You can tell from your post how happy and excited you are to have them there and it brought a smile to my face. Have a wonderful time!

katydidnot said...

if i were to show up, could i babysit? please. i can snurffle.

MommyTime said...

Have a fabulous time this week! And snurffle that baby for me too, please. I so miss having one little enough to snurffle.

The Girl Next Door said...

OOOHh a double tear jerker - I fell behind in reading my Tootsie while visiting my family (I always cry for the first 100 miles of driving back to my house), and read the post on graduation and the brother. Awesome song and awesome photos of the fam.

Texasholly said...

Hey, I used to do that stuff to Fred. Isn't it fabulous that his name is actually Fred?

What fun...enjoy it.

Cynthia said...

What a great post...Yay brother, and cute little baby!

Saucy said...

Damn! Sounds like we have the same bro, 'cept I need him to find a kick-ass-hairdresser-sister-in-law for me!!! Geez.

Baby Favorite said...

You are so lucky to have that kind of brother & sister-in-law! I am totally envious.

As an aside, I work for the Dept of Defense on a Navy base, and I totally hear you about the military guys in uniform. At 40, married & w/2 kids, they don't do a lot for me... but at 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22? I was all over that shit.

Just sayin'.

Anonymous said...

I'm always happy for people who are close to their siblings--and even better when they love the people they married too!

A Mom Two Boys said...

Awww...that's sweet. I always wanted a brother...now I have 4 step-brothers, but it's not the same. Two of which are in the Navy...weird.

Have FUN!

Jason, as himself said...

Yeah, the spit dangling thing? I'm pretty sure I invented it. So somehow you and I must have had some random connection when we were kids in which I taught you, and you copied my spit dangling antics. It's original name is:

The(insert my last name here) Brother Torture.

Lisa Wheeler Milton said...

I imagine it's a little late for me to get a brother. *sigh*

Enjoy your visit and sweet baby smooching.

JCK said...

SO hoping that you are having a great little brother, best SIL in the world, snurffling visit!

Wineplz said...

hope you got all your snurffling this week...my mom and step-dad were here all week in VA and spent lots of time tickling Gavin and snurfling Cooper. ;)
And your bro must've either bought a lot earlier than us, or he's farther south because Northern VA likes to charge half-million for houses, too (which would only be like half that where we came from).