Christmas 2007So here I sit, wide awake at 4:00 in the morning. My insomnia has been pretty bad because of the employment situation (or lack thereof) and I was thinking that I wanted to post something un-wedding related that just made me happy. Then I remembered, BUBBY CLOSES ON HIS HOUSE TODAY!! Perfect opportunity to brag about my big brother.
I absolutely adore this picture. Bubby has issues with creating double chins in his photos and this one was just a quick random shot in the kitchen. It reminds me of how much we look alike (until I look at our Tom Petty photo -- Chris thinks we're twins!)
Let me begin by saying, my brother is one of my very very best friends. He always rags on me for not calling enough and the fact that I have never, in 27 years, actually held a job. (Hooray for 5 years of grad school!) But he is the freaking funniest and wittiest person I've ever met. He actually likes Christopher; as much as a protective brother can like the guy his sister is dating. Christopher knows how much Bubby means to me and so when he asked Daddy if he could marry me, he asked Jeff as well. I thought that was just the sweetest thing.
Bubby has lived in a townhouse in Clarion, PA for years. I remember helping to move him up there sometime early in college. It was snowing - but what else is new for that area of the country? He has been throwing around the idea of buying a house forever but something always came up (e.g. buying a new truck). And FINALLY, a few weeks ago I get a call telling me he's found a house he likes and he's putting down an offer. WOOHOO!
I don't mean for this to sound belittling, but I am really really proud of him. Today is a huge deal and he has worked SO hard to get to where he is. Unlike me (school obsessed nerdfest), Bubby has never been one for school. And although many people tried to push him into the college route, he knew it wasn't for him and he followed his passion. Yes, he started out making no money. Sure there was no guarantee that something lucrative would come along. But he is, by far, the most knowledgeable person about hunting equipment I have ever met in my life and boy can he sell the crap out of it. Jeff was lucky enough to get Daddy's salesman charm and personality. And he knows his stuff and it shows. He gets huge bonuses and brings in tons of sales, and although he's rarely home and can't hold onto a girlfriend longer than a week - I think he is fantastically accomplished.
When I decided to check myself into the hospital a few years ago, it was a very rough time. I hadn't told Bubby about the eating disorder that had consumed my life for years and although Daddy was aware (obviously Mama kept him updated), I couldn't face either one of them. I couldn't stand the thought that either one of my favorite two men in the world would be disappointed in me. When Jeff found out - he was angry. And then he blew off some steam and made a smart choice - he called Matty. Bub knows that Burk was my bestest friend and was taking care of me, and could offer a male perspective. Burk reassured him that everything was ok and when Jeff and I finally spoke about my illness he brought a sense of reality to something that was so abstract in my life. He even gave me the "Jethro's guide to eating: food in mouth, chew, swallow, digest, poop, start over." I think deep down he knew how hard it was for me emotionally, but by focusing solely on the practice of eating, he helped recovery seem like less of an enormous life-changing challenge.
Ok- and all that babble leads to my point. Half way through the hospital I decided to leave engineering - that I wanted to be a school teacher. I was walking away from a PhD and an amazing job offer to teach kids for no money. And I've never told him this (and he doesn't read blogs so...), but he really inspired me to make that decision. I watched him make his own pathway for his career, without ever worrying about what other people thought. And he kept telling me over and over - "it's not how much money you make, it's not what other people think you should be doing - do what makes you happy. It is what it is."
He helped turn my life around; what more could you ask from a sibling? We are 180 degrees from each other in our view of academics, clothing, friends, etc. but sometimes I feel like he is my twin. He can make me laugh so hard and brighten my days and I am so happy that something so wonderful - this house - has finally worked out for him. He deserves it more than anyone...
I love you, Bubby. I can't WAIT to see your new house, with your new garden gnome riding a turtle, and I cannot wait for you to be in our wedding. I love you to the bottom of my heart. (Probably because as a kid you used to fart on my head).
I absolutely adore this picture. Bubby has issues with creating double chins in his photos and this one was just a quick random shot in the kitchen. It reminds me of how much we look alike (until I look at our Tom Petty photo -- Chris thinks we're twins!)
Let me begin by saying, my brother is one of my very very best friends. He always rags on me for not calling enough and the fact that I have never, in 27 years, actually held a job. (Hooray for 5 years of grad school!) But he is the freaking funniest and wittiest person I've ever met. He actually likes Christopher; as much as a protective brother can like the guy his sister is dating. Christopher knows how much Bubby means to me and so when he asked Daddy if he could marry me, he asked Jeff as well. I thought that was just the sweetest thing.
Bubby has lived in a townhouse in Clarion, PA for years. I remember helping to move him up there sometime early in college. It was snowing - but what else is new for that area of the country? He has been throwing around the idea of buying a house forever but something always came up (e.g. buying a new truck). And FINALLY, a few weeks ago I get a call telling me he's found a house he likes and he's putting down an offer. WOOHOO!
I don't mean for this to sound belittling, but I am really really proud of him. Today is a huge deal and he has worked SO hard to get to where he is. Unlike me (school obsessed nerdfest), Bubby has never been one for school. And although many people tried to push him into the college route, he knew it wasn't for him and he followed his passion. Yes, he started out making no money. Sure there was no guarantee that something lucrative would come along. But he is, by far, the most knowledgeable person about hunting equipment I have ever met in my life and boy can he sell the crap out of it. Jeff was lucky enough to get Daddy's salesman charm and personality. And he knows his stuff and it shows. He gets huge bonuses and brings in tons of sales, and although he's rarely home and can't hold onto a girlfriend longer than a week - I think he is fantastically accomplished.
When I decided to check myself into the hospital a few years ago, it was a very rough time. I hadn't told Bubby about the eating disorder that had consumed my life for years and although Daddy was aware (obviously Mama kept him updated), I couldn't face either one of them. I couldn't stand the thought that either one of my favorite two men in the world would be disappointed in me. When Jeff found out - he was angry. And then he blew off some steam and made a smart choice - he called Matty. Bub knows that Burk was my bestest friend and was taking care of me, and could offer a male perspective. Burk reassured him that everything was ok and when Jeff and I finally spoke about my illness he brought a sense of reality to something that was so abstract in my life. He even gave me the "Jethro's guide to eating: food in mouth, chew, swallow, digest, poop, start over." I think deep down he knew how hard it was for me emotionally, but by focusing solely on the practice of eating, he helped recovery seem like less of an enormous life-changing challenge.
Ok- and all that babble leads to my point. Half way through the hospital I decided to leave engineering - that I wanted to be a school teacher. I was walking away from a PhD and an amazing job offer to teach kids for no money. And I've never told him this (and he doesn't read blogs so...), but he really inspired me to make that decision. I watched him make his own pathway for his career, without ever worrying about what other people thought. And he kept telling me over and over - "it's not how much money you make, it's not what other people think you should be doing - do what makes you happy. It is what it is."
He helped turn my life around; what more could you ask from a sibling? We are 180 degrees from each other in our view of academics, clothing, friends, etc. but sometimes I feel like he is my twin. He can make me laugh so hard and brighten my days and I am so happy that something so wonderful - this house - has finally worked out for him. He deserves it more than anyone...
I love you, Bubby. I can't WAIT to see your new house, with your new garden gnome riding a turtle, and I cannot wait for you to be in our wedding. I love you to the bottom of my heart. (Probably because as a kid you used to fart on my head).
xoxoxo
CONGRATULATIONS, HOME OWNER!!
Tom Petty concert.
The night before I was discharged from the hospital.
CONGRATULATIONS, HOME OWNER!!
Tom Petty concert.The night before I was discharged from the hospital.
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