Friday, May 31, 2024
My big brother Bobby stayed ahead of me. He was easy to admire (surely he knew it). Bob's natural ability delighted us all, my Dad especially. He could drive the car, hang from his knees, outrun and out-climb the rest of us...consistently at the top of his class, a happy and original 'dandy'. At home we got an achiever big brother to show us the way. By the time I noticed a cute girl, I would soon find-out that he had already met her... Handsome Bob
Happily for both of us, we were able to get close again a few years ago, after our paths had us busy far apart for too long. Enjoying his stories and adding my own memories, we wove fun times online, traveling together with our wives and at Becky and Bob's. My sons William and George were both pleased to meet and to spend some time recently with their Tio Bob in Houston, visiting from overseas in time to meet him and share some games and tales with him.
Bob and I even got to put together some fuel processing schemes that worked, of course.
Bobby could do what he aimed for, a gift that our parents gave all of their kids generously. Besides caring for his household gladly and abundantly, he was a sport; playing tennis, running 'the hash', rugby, sailing and any other game; really a natural. I was able to out-swim him though. He enjoyed flying and got his pilot's license. Entertaining friends and family from everywhere with new foods and open-house was always fun and easy for him.
After he revived from his stroke I figured that I could keep his company longer than I did. I will resist saying farewell to him for a while yet because I'm busy remembering the many times that we played and enjoyed this life with each other as brothers and friends. I was privileged to have him in my life.
