Today, September 17 is the day that Ryan and Aaron, my dorky little brothers, entered the world and took up plaguing the life out of me. I remember that in order to prepare my three year old mind for the concept of "twins," someone bought me two baby dolls in matching blue nightgowns before the boys were born. I thought the baby dolls were great, and I thought the boys were OK too, when they were in that phase where they just lounged around drooling a lot. But then they started walking and talking, and according to family legend, that's when I started turning to them before we entered any public place and saying to them in the most threatening voice I could muster "DON'T embarrass me." That's a riot now, but it wasn't a totally unreasonable request at the time. These were boys who once ran around in our yard buck naked waving beach towels behind them like superhero capes. Did I mention that it was the front yard? And that at the time, the family of a friend of mine was pulling up in our driveway to pick me up for a sleepover?
But today, they are 22 years old, and it's been a long time since I was embarrased to admit that I am related to them. Now, I'm actually really proud of them, just like I am of the rest of my family.
This is the first time the boys haven't been together on their birthday, and so it was a little weird to make two separate phone calls to catch up with them, but they were both doing about what I would have predicted. Aaron was in D.C., on a way to visit a tattoo parlor to have one of their artists draw up an design for an emblem he wants inlaid on the base of his prosthetic leg. Ryan was grilling himself some filet mignon ("My present to me, Haley," he told me.) and watching some college football. It was so normal it made me want to cry. But I didn't. Instead I teased them about getting old and told them to have a happy birthday. I also told them that I love them. We've always said that in my family, but I think we say it a lot more now, which is a good thing.
So here's to my baby brothers. May they live long and prosper.