I Talked To A Couple of Brothers Today

I remember climbing trees with my brothers. I was the oldest and I felt responsible for my younger brothers and sister from a very young age. And so to some degree, I still feel responsible for keeping close ties!

I spoke on the phone with two brothers today. One brother turned 68 in June 2023 and the other turned 60 in August 2023. One brother lives in Texas and the other one lives about two hours down the road from me.

While speaking to a friend, and talking about aging, and missing our sisters, she then said, "I hardly ever hear from my brothers unless I call them." I then said, is it all brothers or just ours?

My brother who is ten years younger would call me if he needed to sell some wild rice as he needed money for something. Usually to repair a vehicle before payday.

Nothing. The other brother living in Texas will call about once a year. I reached both of them with the first call. Sometimes I will leave a message for a return call.

My one brother drinks alcohol so I always try to call before he starts to drink. The other brother goes to church on Sunday, so it is better if I call him later in the day.

It was perfect timing for both. They had time to talk without interruption. I spoke with our younger brother first. We talked about health stuff, he asked how my husband was and we moved on to vehicles and then work.

When he was ready to get off the phone he said, "I suppose I will let you go." That is when I said, "Wait! How is your family?" He said the family is fine. That was it! He has a wife and 4 children.

Then he moved into talking at length about their dog.

Their dog needed his nails trimmed and everyone was afraid to clip his nails as he bites. He said that his dog was having trouble walking and then was barely walking. He decided it had to be done so he would do it.

His dog had bit every service person that had gone into their house. He said it was a good thing he never drew blood. Then he described the baggy pants the service men wore that prevented the bite from doing any damage.

I let him know that was probably a very good thing as I have heard of dogs being put to sleep for biting neighbors. And a friend had her dog get kicked out of a dog park for biting.

He said how clipping the nails worked and how he still has a couple of nails to clip but today he could tell his dog was so happy when he came over to him to be petted.

After I laughed at his long tale about his dog, I told my brother that I planned to write about how when I asked about his family he went into detail about their dog, not saying anything about his wife or children.

He laughed and didn't object!

After I told my brother in Texas about my conversation with our younger brother, he told me right away that his wife just the other day mentioned how she can't believe they are 68 and she started to cry.

I told him I could relate as all I talked about and wrote about last year was aging. 69 was my year of panic, worry, and horror. How could I be turning 70 is what I probably said to everyone I had a conversation with.

And I talk to everyone!

Then we talked about what he was doing as we talked. His wife was shopping and he was her escort! They had just left church and were in the mall.

Our conversation was cut short as I had a granddaughter with two great-granddaughters pop in!

As I let him know I would have to go, he said, "I will call you next time as I should have learned after mom died. I didn't see or talk to her enough. And I don't want that to happen again." I said, yes. I am 70 now. Who knows when our time is up. But no guilt meant.

He said, "None taken. I plan to call all my brothers and to call you back next time!"

Overall nice visits with two of my four brothers and I loved seeing my granddaughter and her girls. I needed to give a birthday present as I missed a birthday last week!