We went to my baby brother’s house this weekend to have an early Christmas (as none of us intends to travel for Christmas itself). I only see him once or twice a year but it always seems that we pick back up where we left off. I am 2.5 years older than him so we’ve been together as long as either of us can remember. I am certain that he made out better in the deal than I did as I had to give up the complete attention of my parents whereas he was born into a good family with a fantastic older sibling.  I used to be pretty rough on my brother…he would say I tortured him but I always thought of it as tough love.  Anyhow, I still pick on him a good bit but he is now a good bit larger and stronger than I am.  Fortunately I taught him well as he does not typically pick on me to make up for all those years…

Anyhow, we goofed around a lot this weekend. I think we’ve been clowns for about as long as I can remember. We are both professional adults and lead fairly adult lives…except when we get together. I won’t detail much of the tom-foolery that went on, but rather, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves…but honestly, red suspenders need to be snapped.  My parents (who were present this weekend also) got them for my brother who recently bought a firetruck from my home town.  I think my brother intends to use the truck to get groceries and for the occasional power wash off the driveway.  Anyhow, he couldn’t have a firetruck without red suspenders…and I couldn’t see red suspenders on my brother without snapping them…and he couldn’t let me snap them without bear-hugging me until my ribs cracked!  It was great fun!

As we’ve aged, we’ve grown separate in some of our interests and thoughts and discovered other areas in which we agree.

We still burp at the table and stuff, but since we are adults, our parents can now join in.  I mostly feel like an adult, but hanging out with my brother takes me back a little.  I get a little less serious (hard to imagine you say?) and a little more annoying to my wife.  It’s sort of funny how brothers work I guess but since I can’t (er…I mean won’t) trade mine in, I suppose I’ll keep the one I have!