So, Brother Paul has started to read my pennings (I told him that he was featured in more than one of my articles) – and, has quickly punned my website title of “Doctor’s Inn” to “Doctor Sin”: which I found rather clever, and perhaps, absolutely appropo.
I did have to inform my Boet (Afrikaans for ‘brother’) that he was no longer recognized as the world’s pull-up champion – and that some young whippersnapper had shattered his record (set a few years back). In fact – I was rather embarrassed at a recent Christmas dinner when the veracity of my report of my Boet’s world record was immediately put to a Google Test; and, his name did NOT come up. I suggested that my Boet set the standard for these new studs – as he DID have the Guiness Book of World Records involved in his record setting effort (not to mention a cute Texas newscaster). And he did set the record when he was in his late 30s…
When I committed my first piano compilation to CD (originally titled ‘Anachronism’) to Anachronism: For Those Still Awake and Those Who Never Slept – I thanked Brother Paul for being the strength of the family – after I had been in an absinthe-like coma for-some-20-years: and I genuinely meant these thanks to my Little Boet (he is 9+ years younger than I). After all, any family that attempts to endure and function over time – does require a leader, or at-the-very-least, a figure head. And all-the-while I was out-of-commission from THIS particular role (I was doing other things)– my Little Boet stepped-up-to-the-plate: whether he was swimming for Michigan State; playin’ with the ladies; body-building; drinking like a good German; or, practicing his German comedy routine – he was the central figure (and subsequent organizing principle) of our family for-a-good-number-of-years.
Brother Paul and I go round-and-round about one particular incident where he either tried to impress, or, was pissed off at, me – and leveled his pellet gun at my head (to this day he suggests that the gun wasn’t loaded) and I’m sure he’s telling the truth – but Boy! Did that piss me off!!
It was never an incident that affected our Future Selves – we just can’t figure out exactly how it came to that (something about hocking loogies) – but it does lead to another memory of when Brother Paul trailed along to Girlfriend Debbie’s house and was playing in her pool alone (while I was playing with her [though I gather that he had some time to spy on us]). I still can’t believe that I was more worried about my hard-on than keeping an eye on him – and he hasn’t let me forget THIS! I’m very glad that no life-altering accident transpired, and, that Brother Paul has survived all: bouts with skin cancer and 5 years at Michigan State in his resume. I DID drop him on his head when he was an infant and that was an accident: I’ve never held a squirming infant before. It wasn’t a long tumble – I’ve always been close-to-the-ground, and maybe, just maybe — he may have received added brain stimulation that has kept him so happy all-these-years.
And even though I call him my Little Boet – he hasn’t been “little” for many, many years: in fact, he’s a powerful 6 footer to my 5’8’’. I knew I was in trouble when he could latch onto one-of-my-limbs after I had “dropped him”; and then, reel me in like some helpless bass.
It’s nice to have family surrounding us, particularly when our own children head off in their own directions. It’s nice to have the memories and ongoing experiences with folks who have known you all-of-their lives and enjoy your company and repartee. So even though Brother Paul is now a Texan, and a die-hard Bush-o-file; I gotta love him and thank him for loving me…