July 17, 1995
I was going to be in the room when he was born. The night before, when it was time to leave for the hospital, I was invited to go with, and I slept on a cot next to my dad in my mom's room. The hospital's air conditioner was broken, so it was freezing cold, and all night long my dad and I fought over the thin blanket stretched between us.
The next day I waited and waited. Pacing the halls with my mom began to get very boring. I had memorized the pieces of "art" on the walls and had enough of hospital snack food. Outside it was hot and sunny--a perfect summer day. When I got a call from a friend inviting me to go to the swimming pool, I decided to go--surely my new little brother could wait a few more hours.
But he didn't! He was born while I was sliding down the water slide at the Boone pool, my shoulders turning pink in the sun.
Today he turns 13--the age I was when he was born. I hope it is a perfect summer day in Iowa, like it was the day he was born. A perfect day for skateboarding with friends, eating melty pizza at a park, washing it down with a sno-cone.
Josef, I love you and miss you every day. I am so happy you're my brother, even though I'm so much older than you and have been gone so much. You know I always come back. :o)
生日快乐!
1 comment:
Being away from family on special occasions can be difficult. I am so happy you have so many wonderful memories to make the miles seem a little shorter.
Sue
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