Thursday, February 01, 2007

Characteristics

My brother was in town visiting after Dad had surgery and got settled at home. We went over for a little family reunion. It was the first time my brother would meet my son, and indeed was the first time we'd all been in the same place at the same time for well over a decade. While we all get along, busy lives and geography prevent frequent gatherings. I see my dentist more often than I see my kin.

Since the plague made its way through my home at Christmastime and then the observation was further postponed by Dad's surgery, we were still playing holiday catch-up - and Incrediboy received his gifts from Grandma and Gramps while we were there. One gift was a Spongebob Ants in the Pants, which we (my brother, Incrediboy and I) had a blast flipping around. As my brother and I chatted he absentmindedly gathered up the rogue ants and stacked them together by color over and over while we played. I was amused, being that this is one of my own disorders - color separation. I pointed this out and we discussed our eerily similar obsessive compulsions, despite spending little more than a month together in the past 20 years.

Since God only knows when we'll all be together again, Hub took a family portrait. I find it interesting to see how people react to it - some say I look just like Mom, others say just like Dad. But the funniest thing of all was the way I positioned my hands.

Just like Mom did.




It just goes to show, your family is always with you.

13 comments:

chesneygirl said...

Wow! I didn't realize it had been that long since you've seen your brother!
I cannot imagine going that long without seeing my brother!

I think you look more like your dad...but you and your brother look ALOT alike! :)

Michelle said...

I noticed the hand thing right away when I saw the picture you emailed me.

And you look way more like your mom than your dad.

Martie said...

I loved the photo you sent and added it to my album......I think you all look exactly like yourselves! Hugs and thanks again for sending me this pic!

Nelly said...

That is so nice Clew. I'm glad you were all able to spend that time together. Family is so important.

My son got the SpongeBob Ants in the Pants for Christmas too! We of course make it into a drinking game for the adults when the kids go to bed! It's great!

Tracy said...

Nelly Said your Birthday is today! Happy Happy Birthday!
I hope oyou have a chance to enjoy your day!

chesneygirl said...

Just stopping by to say......


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sistah!!!!!!

Martie said...

A most Happy and Memorable Birthday to you......still waiting for your arrival time...;) Love ya!

Sam said...

Sounds like a wonderful family time! Thank you for sharing it with us :-)

Anonymous said...

That's very interesting. To take that one step further.

I met a cousin of mine last year when we went to NYC, we had never met before, but when we got together it was odd the things we had in common. The funniest one was when we were hanging out with some of her friends and we both laughed and one of the guys said "Oh my god, you two laugh alike." And we did! Which made us laugh even more!

Your birthday is VERY soon isn't it?

Kat said...

Wow, that hand positioning is CRAZY!!!! That is just amazing.

Ame said...

:)

Anonymous said...

I was born clasping both thumbs. My dad sleeps sometimes clasping both thumbs. I was born sleeping. LOL The doctor slapped me three times before I awoke. My mom noticed right off how I was clasping my thumbs. I still sleep like that sometimes. I inherited shy thumbs. :)

Anonymous said...

Awwww, a touching post Buddy. Family should be the most important thing in anyone's life. Including me...well, except for my Uncle Sammy.