Letter Challenge-Sibling Letter

My Thirty Day Letter Challenge is a couple of days behind.  I am committed to completing this challenge but it may take a bit more than 30 days.  Today’s challenge is a letter to a sibling.  I have many choices for this one, but I only have one sibling that shares the same mother and father.  Today’s letter is my brother, Mike.

Dear Mike,

One of my biggest regrets is that we have not been able to see each other  more often over our lifetime.  That choice was made for us by our parents.  The picture I share on my website was taken when I was four and you were two.  It was the last time we saw each other until four years later.   When our parents split and we were sent to live with different sets of grandparents, I lost all memory of you.

When I was eight years old, my grandmother told me that the man I thought was an uncle was my father.  She then dropped the news that we taking a trip to West Va. to visit my grandparents from his side and, oh by the way, to see my brother.   I had a bit of a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I had a brother.  When I first saw you, I didn’t remember you but somehow I knew you.

For the next eight years or so, my grandmother and I would drive to West Va. and spend a week or so with you.  Those trips were exciting and I loved seeing you.  They were also painful and emotionally devastating.   Every time we left, I felt a tiny bit of heart ripped away and left behind.

I married young and moved to California to be near our mother.  You joined the Navy and were stationed in San Diego.  You were able to spend time with our mother for the first time since you were two years old.   Check out the pictures below to see how we looked back then. I don’t think that Weegie board did us much good.   I do remember the crazy New Year’s Eve party with Little Richard and Meatloaf.

Life took some crazy turns for us both.  We each lived in different parts of the country and had to deal with our own demons.  We kept in touch by phone calls and letters.  We were able to see each other a few times when travel would bring us close enough. Once again life would take us in different directions.  We were not able to see each other from about 1982 until 2010.   Email and the internet allowed us other ways to connect.

We always managed to talk during football season.  One of the craziest choices you made in your life was to become a Dallas Cowboys fan.  I don’t know what genetic mutation caused that sort of brain dysfunction.   It must have come from the crazy side of the family.  Oh wait, I don’t think we have discovered a side of the family that isn’t crazy.   I can’t wait to call you every time Dallas falls apart or my Redskins, Panthers, and Ravens show their talent and skill.

I have cherished the two visits we have shared recently.  We seem to love tormenting each other.  They said I called you Bubba when we were little.   I teased you about that just a bit.   You love to pick on me and I may protest, but I secretly like it.   We have a bond that time and distance can’t break.  You are my baby brother and I love you.

Love always,

Your big Sis

Cathy