Big Brother

When we were toddlers, people thought we were twins; my older brother and I. We were buddies. Or so our parents would tell us. We were the Saturday night live of 1952. I would throw a toy out of the playpen and Bob would run and fetch it, being silly, rolling on the floor or jumping wildly while I laughed and laughed at him. He threw the toy back in the playpen just to have me throw it out.
Big brothers play a special role. I guess that is why I always think the boy should be born first - to protect little sister - to blaze the trail and clear the path for her to promenade through childhood. We had some good childhood times - like running through the horse pasture trying not to get bit, burning down an oil field across the street from our home, painting the neighbor's garage red, making fig mud pies and trying to get baby brother to eat them, sneaking out the window and dropping a typewriter on the head - Bob was in the emergency room with that one. Rolling into the street in a big cardboard barrel- and all that before the age of 5!!!
God had His hand on us alright. Somebody had to have a hand on us. We were wild little comanches, cowboy hats, my Annie Oakley gun set, boots and vest. Mom had a lot of faith in our Lassie of a dog - a half-breed named Tippy. There were many other venturous escapades but we survived to adulthood.
I love getting family together when Bob comes. He has the ability to laugh at just about everything in life. Nothing escapes his sapient eye! And no one is immune to his infectious humor. My sons must have inherited some of the wit. We can laugh and laugh at just about nothing! ......and everything. We remember the things that made us laugh as kids, young parents with our own kids, young grandparents - and I suppose someday we will laugh at aging - or wheelchairs or senior diapers.
Life has been a bit tough for him, but oh, Lord! May I always find the humor in life - despite where I have been, what I am in, or what I am facing - just like my big brother. Here we are. Do we look like twins now??