A Deserved Reprise

I offered this a couple of years ago on this date, since on this date years ago, and every year on this date since, it is my youngest brother's birthday. 

I called it (less than imaginatively): 

On My Brother's Birthday

I'm fortunate to have two brothers and three sisters. I concede that, as the oldest of the brood, lucky was NOT always the first word I would have reached for to describe my condition in terms of my siblings.

As my parents' practice child, I had, and have, the smallest heart, the slowest brain, and the most easily bruised feelings. By the time Joan and Bill Senior's last production model, Adam, whose birthday is today, rolled off the familial assembly line, they had a set of mighty fine children.

A brother is someone with whom you share both childhood memories and grown-up dreams. I've known Adam every day of his whole life, and any stories I would tell you, he would know, and in the telling of them, they would no longer be just ours but would belong to the world.

I suspect Adam would be okay with that, but I know I wouldn't be at all, so I'll save them for us and offer to you instead words from Clara Ortega that read as if she could be a sister we never knew, but she's describing the family, not just her family: 

"To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time."

As each of us knows, including Adam, that's not really true, but it is a lovely thought, especially on your birthday. And he was just able to read that line and wince thanks to me. Happy Birthday Adam!
-bill kenny