Monday 22 April 2013

S is for .... Siblings

S is for .... Siblings

Today is my brother's birthday. Happy Birthday!
I feel sad. I do each time I think about this subject. My brother and I spent all of our childhood growing up together, going through all the childhood phases together. We played, laughed, argued, fought, screamed, cried, and giggled. And then did it all over again and again and again. We suffered through adolescence together, and entered young adulthood together. He was a big part of my younger years, as we grew together, developing and experiencing life together.
We spent all those years together, yet it was so easy for us to drift apart. Life takes hold, I go this way and he goes that way and suddenly who remembers the last time we spoke to each other, let alone talk. Just a phone call away, that's what they say. Then why don't we make them?
Relationships are complicated things. Some relationships require a great deal of effort and dedication, while other ones you can just pick up where you left off after years. I suppose I would put myself and my brother in the latter category. Even though I was never really close to my brother like some siblings, I know that we could just pick up where we left off last time - years ago - and fill in the gaps along the way. It would make some great catch up conversation.
Maybe our 'pick up and put down' relationship is because really we aren't so similar. Of course, we must share some similar traits, but we have always been quite different. Maybe our differences have determined our relationship style. How does this happen? How do two siblings turn out so different, with different personalities and different life paths? Who knows.
I'm sad because I haven't seen him in about four years. I haven't seen my nephews grow. But, the most important thing is they are all doing fine. They are living their lives and doing their things. I know that once I do get to see them again, we will pick up where we left off and it will be like we only saw each other yesterday.

7 comments:

  1. I know how you feel, Stephanie. My brother is 11 years older than I am, so our lives have moved on at different stages. I haven't seen him since my wedding more than 20 years ago. We exchange Christmas cards and news about our kids, but it's not the same.

    Happy A to Z!

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  2. I have three brothers and one sister and I am only close to one brother! It is too bad, but it is what it is.

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  3. I was very close to my brother, he recently passed away. Make TIME!! We lived in different states, we talked often but now i realize not enough. I miss the sound of his voice. EVERY DAY!! Make time!!
    Connie
    A to Z-ing to the end
    Peanut Butter and Whine

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  4. Being the oldest of five, I get it! We are all over the place and especially now being at different points in our lives...graduated from college with jobs, college, and high school. It is so hard to keep in touch, but it is nice to be able to have the ability to just pick up the relationship again! Inspirefly

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  5. I am an only child, so I've never really had a 'true' sibling experience. I sort of adopted my best friends in high school as my siblings. We're dissimilar enough to keep things interesting, but we're all still close.

    Lyre @ Lyre's Musings #atozchallenge

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  6. Hi I am a new follower from the challenge. I know what yo mean about relationships and my brothers and I always had the kind you can just pick right back up with. I come from a large family, five brothers and four sisters. Four of my brothers have passed away, from 1980 to 2012, and I can't stress enough, the importance of always letting your family and friends know how much they mean to you because you never know when you may be speaking to them for the last time.

    I enjoyed your post

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  7. There's nothing quite like a friend with which you can pick up right where you left off, and when it's family, it's only better. Nice post!

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