The Simon to my Theodore

I haven’t mentioned my big brother in quite some time. This hasn’t been on purpose, it’s just that he made himself really scarce in 2007/2008. He’s only been in town for a little over a month since this time last year. I, for one, think that’s pretty damn cool.

This time last year, he took off on an adventure in New Zealand without a job or place to stay and ended up working on a ski hill for their winter season and earning his keep on an organic farm on the off hours. How many people can say THAT? Then, a month after he got back, he took off again to catch another winter season (worst nightmare…) in Lake Louise for more ski-hill action.

He’s a great guy – two years older than me and the complete opposite in every way possible. Somehow, this worked out in a way where we just moved past the fighting commonly associated with two brothers (likely because his martial arts could beat my flailing and screaming any day) and went directly into rolling our eyes at each other because why the hell is he READING when he could be eating bowls of peanut butter with sugar sprinkled on the top while watching Captain Planet with me?

Yes. I was chubby and unpopular. SURPRISE!

He was tall, thin, smart, and dapper. I was short, round, chatty, and without front teeth for the majority of my childhood. (I whistled both S- and Th-sounds). He connected with Dad by asking “why?” and “how”. I connected with Mom by playing with glitter instead of caring about what their geekery. Some things have changed. Some things haven’t.

He really balances out the family dynamic with his quiet, patient, compassion and dry wit that brings my Mom to hysterical tears. Needless to say, I’m pretty pumped for him to get back. The fact that he can put up with 1) me, 2) the newf, 3) and my parents all at once pretty much puts him up for sainthood.

OH – and he hasn’t met the pooch yet. That’ll be fun when he gets in after an all-night flight this morning…He has been very impressed with the idea of a living homage to Calvin & Hobbes though so they’re off to a good start.

Plus now we can share the Jack Daniels I bought him [in order to replace the bottle I stole from him when he was away]. MUCH better than peanut butter and sugar.

Okay, fine…it’s a close second.