Family Ties

John, Sam and I are all three years apart. Our childhood together was interesting. Being pastor's kids and under constant teaching from the Bible, we fought more than a couple a canibals over the last love handles of a fat kid. I'm not kidding.

John once hit me in the face with a doll house, causing one of my baby teeth to die and turn grey.

I got back at him a decade later by almost running him over with my VW Jetta.

When Sam was just a little bun in the oven, I remember getting into trouble for something and being sent to my room "to pray about it". Rather, I prayed (knowing that Sam was a boy) for a little sister. I begged for a little sister. I guess my penance was the unchanged gender of my little brother.

So, I got him back. Sam surely got the worst of it. John and I were ruthless. We once gave him a wedgie so extreem that his underwear ripped in half (we each got a side, lifted him up and shook him until he fell to the floor, comando-style); got him to eat yellow snow by explaining that we had made ice-cones in the front yard; convinced him he was adopted; I dressed both of them up in old lingerie, complete with a makeover and red toenails (yes, I got the lecture from Dad that boys do not wear dresses and makeup).

All in all, I'd say we were fairly normal kids. And our parents were concerned. Psh.

Today, we are far from the harmonious family that my parents worked so hard to raise. However, we do stand up for eachother when it comes down to the wire. I may talk crap about Sam and give John a hard time every time I see him. But, I do love 'em and am grateful for them.

I don't believe an accident of birth makes people sisters or brothers. It makes them siblings, gives them mutuality of parentage. Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition people have to work at. ~Maya Angelou