I can go pretty far back in time, at least in my mind. So many great memories continue to pop up and bring a huge smile to my face. You've been walking this earth for 50 years now...and I'm always 7 years behind. Through those years we've shared many things. From having the same parents, cousins, aunts and uncles and sister, to sharing the same bedroom within the same homes and even some cars, clothes and more.
From my younger years I have small snip-its from the house on 3rd Avenue. Playing ball in the backyard. Riding 3-wheelers up and down the sidewalk. Riding our bikes up and down the hills to the river and back. Running away from the neighborhood bully, and building bike jumps out of spare wood from around the garage. I remember legos and bulldogs. I remember taping out roads and a village on the floor of the basement for our Hotwheels. I remember falling asleep in your bedroom after watching Friday the 13th and being scared. I remember you CD collection. I keep thinking back and remembering a time when you had all the teens from youth group over and I fell asleep early and woke up to some of the youth group girls telling me how cute I was. Ha. I remember street hockey, tennis and baseball. This was 3rd Avenue in Anoka, and we had an awesome upbringing. Everything we needed was within a mile or two, or walking distance. I ride my bike through Anoka often these days and it feels so small, but it also is big with memories and history.
I will never forget moving from the Anoka house to the Andover house. All that land, the long driveway, the woods where we built a tree fort and where I found my first porno magazine. We put miles of fun on the 3-wheelers and motorbikes. It's where I learned to drive a stick shift on your T-1000 while you were away at college. Driving moms RX-7 up and down the driveway in first and reverse only. It's where I got my left pinky finger broken when you and I were messing around in the room we shared upstairs. That same room where we made farting noises for hours. This was the home that you gave me one of my favorite Christmas presents ever...the mini basketball hoop. We played in the basement for hours and hours. Taping off a free-throw and three point line. Your library of compact discs where I was first introduced to U2 and The Violent Femmes.
This is also where I got my first car, from you and then you had it custom pinstriped for me for my birthday. Some of my favorite colors to this day are neon blue and hot pink. And that 4 speed car with push button reverse was a blast to drive and the one I got my first speeding ticket in (for excessive acceleration). You taught me that being a great driving was being both offensive and defensive and the first one to the speed limit wins. Andover is where you taught me that swearing equaled communicative ignorance, and as much as I agree, I still feel as if there is a time and place for it. Like when dad called you a Jack-ass for the time the newspaper must have caught on fire and you tried to put it out. ;)
You taught me that a clean car was important because taking pride in what you had was a positive thing and would make you appreciate it more. I remember so many things in and around that place. The day you moved away to college I was pretty young. I remember it though. And like many things in life, the day came and went and things changed and much, for me, stayed the same. There were times of life from here on out that changed who we are as individuals. Moments that bridged gaps and crated waves. Lots more great memories and many misfortunes.
After you were done with college you soon moved away to California. I came to visit a few summers and can remember your apartment, the car you drove, the room mates you had and the girl you met. Jeff's aqua green 66 mustang with the automatic had nothing on your 3 speed 289 red 66, but it sure was pretty. I recall the summer of 93 being a strange one. Mom was gone, we were in SoCal...playing basketball with Murph. I got major sunburn on my legs and toes while at the beach with Scott Peterson. Skateboarding, smoking cigars, eating my first ever fish taco from a food cart (and still the best I've had to date), learning how to surf, and trying to find myself in the midst of all the life chaos. You were there. I don't totally remember packing up and getting ready to move back to Minneapolis. I do, however, remember the drive through the mountains with the trailer off the back of teh Jeep Cherokee. Stopping in Vegas to see Steve Thomason and getting asked to leave the gambling floor because I wasn't yet 21. Gosh, is seems like a lifetime ago.
1993 held a lot of things: I graduated from High School (barely). Jill and Eric; you and Angie; Dad and Karleen all got married. pretty sure that winter I met Hunters Mom. I also remember you coming to Mpls to pick me up in a Ford Ranger...then I turned you away. WE could read into much of this in so many ways...but the paths brought us here, to this day in 2018.
We made it back home just in time to prepare for Jill and Eric's wedding. Gosh, that was a blur as well. I don't recollect it as well as I'd like....and in the same breath, that summer was sorta hit and miss. Not soon thereafter you and Angie got hitched in Michigan. I do remember driving out there with Murph and being part of the ceremony. Lots of family and friends, of course, and a really nice day (I think it was pretty hot though).
I distinctly remember Dad's wedding in October in the Sun Room off the back to the Andover house. I went to goodwill and found the ugliest shirt I could...turns out it didn't look that bad on me. I'd likely even wear it today if I still had it. Ironic? Maybe. Likely not, though.
We've owned many cars, many homes, and lived many places. Some things have remained the same and others have changed quite a bit. One certainty, though, is that we remain brothers and we share many common bonds through life's trials and tribulations...along with the highs and the wins. Where we are now has much to do with how we were brought up. What we believe. And how we've reacted. I'm proud of you and the family you've raised. The woman you've married. The smiles you've created over the years. I thank you for the memories we have shared. The things you've shown me. And the kinship we have forever.
Whatever today holds for you, I wish it to be real. Whatever the upcoming year holds for you, I hope for good things, positive things, and beautiful things. Whatever the future holds for you, I want it to be great!
This is just a snip it of so many things. BIG and small. Old a new. So here is a toast to BIGGER things that are to come. The small things that make us one. The old things that keep us honest. The new things that come with promise. I hope this birthday is the best to date. And here's to the memories that make all things great!
Happy Birthday Brother. I'm thankful for you.
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