Many thoughts occur to me today as I reflect on the week that was.
Last Saturday I attended my sister Jessica’s baby shower at Club 57.
By all accounts. my sister’s shower went well. She might be mad at me if I tell the public the name of her future baby, so I won’t share that. What I will say is it’s a girl, and she is due at the end of October.
My sister is a bartender at Barden’s in addition to working for me at the newspaper. She just turned 30 this August.
Growing up the youngest of three in a single parent household was interesting. I tell people I want my future kids to have siblings because I enjoyed them, despite all their flaws.
Nathan was the oldest and he never went into the newspaper business. He’s more of a free spirit who enjoys riding motorcycles and playing video games.
My sister and I are much more alike. She always got better grades than I did in school and was a much better writer.
I emphasize the importance of siblings during hard times. Yes, the good times are great. Like driving back from a late-night Perkins run, singing Christmas carols together. But the difficult times are what strengthen your relationship. When Dad was having his medical troubles, the only other people who knew what I was going through were Nathan and Jessica.
When we’ve lost loved ones, they know what that feels like. I wouldn't trade those relationships for the world.
Being the youngest has its benefits too. Growing up, I would watch Nathan and Jessica do dumb things, make mistakes, and think to myself, “Don’t do that.”
Other times I would tell myself, “I’m definitely trying that!”
At different points, I’ve lived with both my siblings.
Once when I was 18 and mad at my Dad, I stayed with Nathan for a short period. Again, when I turned 20, we shared a place together for a year.
When I went to college, I set up a room at Jessica’s house in Waseca to stay.
And now both of them, well, all of us, are all grown up. Nathan turned 31 this year, and Jessica 30. I turn another year older in November, and reflecting on this thought, I realize age doesn’t mean a whole lot other than there are more problems. At least, people tell me aches and pains accumulate as you get older.
What I’m trying to say is I’m excited to be an uncle, and I’m grateful for the relationship I’ve cultivated with my two great siblings. I hope this doesn’t go to their heads too much.
Also, I should mention we do have an adopted brother Matt, who came into our lives when he was 17-18 and I was 12. Yes, you count too, but I didn’t share a room with you for the first 10 years of my life like Nathan.
P.S. Nathan only tried to kill me with Legos once during my first decade of existence. And Jessica just pushed me into a wall when I was 2 ½ years old and caused me to get 10 stitches in my head.
“Siblings: your only enemy you can’t live without.” – Anonymous
Okay, here’s my actual ending quote:
“To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were, we know each other’s hearts, we share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.” – Clara Ortega