My Mission
I can remember the day when my brother and I thought we were getting a dog.
We had just finished another round of "run around the house in our underwear" and our parents had called us to the dinner table for a quick conversation. No, this was not within the last handful of years. I believe I was about 7--making Dan 4 or so.
Our parents called us to the dining room table and told us they had a surprise or a special treat, or whatever it was, for the both of us. We were hoping it was a dog, and much to our dismay were informed that we had a baby sister on the way. Baby Nothing as we would come to call her. Not sure where that name came from. Sorry, Beth. Anywho (literally) that's when we found out we were to become big brothers with a little sister on the way.
Early on, whether I did it subconsciously or not, I became resolute in a mission within myself. I was determined to be the best example of a big brother I could be for younger brother and younger sister. I figured if I could keep my head on straight, then maybe the two behind me might follow in my footsteps. I decided to keep my nose clean and my head up--okay, for the most part--focusing on what was good and helping and strengthening those around me. I tried to be a good friend, nephew, grandson, son, and brother.
I watched my sister give a speech at church this morning. She was in front of those gathered, speaking on what her church has meant to her. Not to brag, but she gave me a shoutout.
I'm two for two on sibling shout outs. In case Dan forgets, I'll remember for him--he gave me a shoutout this time three years ago. I can't remember exactly what for. I think it was for being "the greatest big brother that ever walked this planet," or something along those lines.
As I sat out in the audience watching baby sister thanking a crowd for shaping her in that church, I sat back and took a big breath. I believe my mission is complete.
I can't do much more from this point forward. In three months short time, Beth will be heading out to the University of South Carolina (boo) to join other big brother. (Pause--Thanks for teaming up on me, jerks.) She'll be off to form her own self, off to join her own hand-picked groups, and off to meeting her own new friends and making her own decisions.
Dan's already been down that path for two years now at Carolina (again, boo). And I've been quite proud of what both of them have been able to accomplish and the paths they've taken.
I was so proud to know Dan had joined the high school cross country/track and field teams as a high schooler, after trying out for sports teams as a middle schooler. While he definitely got the athletic talent of the three of us, he was still bold enough to try out. When he earned a scholarship to run in college, I was proud again. And then after transferring to Carolina, he joined a college church group and has fallen right in line with those fine folks, and again I'm proud of that choice he has made. He's met a terrific young lass among that group (hi, Marissa) and again I'm proud. More than that, he also provided a terrific example for little sister and became a second great example for her.
We all had been badgering Beth for, what had to feel like in her mind the better portion of her junior and senior years (and maybe sophomore year too), about what colleges she was interested in and what she wanted to do in college. It only made sense, maybe, to figure out her life after both Dan and I had gone off to school. She never gave straight answers, as Beth is partial to doing. I'm pretty positive she told me at one point that she wanted to go to Yale to major in Native American studies--those were the kinds of answers she gave us. (I looked, they don't even have that major.)
So we were all kind of waiting to hear what Beth would choose for her college career. I called her back last fall during the middle of a school day and one of my teacher planning periods, and I asked her what her big news was that Mom kept bugging me about.
She told me that she wanted to be a middle school English teacher. I don't think she noticed that I wasn't quite as quick to answer as I normally might have been. I was a little shocked at the moment. First, because Beth had made a decision and wouldn't be pulling our collective leg anymore. But secondly because she was choosing a path that I had chosen some 17 months in advance. In that moment, I was one proud brother.
When I went away to school, Beth and Dan became pretty close and I'm glad that they will have each other for at least one year before Dan graduates from South Carolina. As for me, I'll be at home feeling pretty darn good that I think I succeeded in setting the tone for these two as they go forward. I have always been pleasantly surprised with what they have been capable of and have been impressed with the choices they have made. I set out on a mission to lead by example and I'm excited to see what they accomplish. I feel my mission has been a success.
I haven't said any of this straightforward to either one of them, I don't believe. Sometimes it's easier to write down words than say them out loud. Then edit them and re-read them and shift them around and then finalize them before they're out there. But then, I've always been interested in words. Whether reading them or writing them, words are what I do. Right, Beth?
In going to Clemson, there's obviously that rivalry with that school from the middle of the state. Most folks from my school don't like anything to do with USC. But I'm pleased to say I often root for two Gamecocks.
We had just finished another round of "run around the house in our underwear" and our parents had called us to the dinner table for a quick conversation. No, this was not within the last handful of years. I believe I was about 7--making Dan 4 or so.
Our parents called us to the dining room table and told us they had a surprise or a special treat, or whatever it was, for the both of us. We were hoping it was a dog, and much to our dismay were informed that we had a baby sister on the way. Baby Nothing as we would come to call her. Not sure where that name came from. Sorry, Beth. Anywho (literally) that's when we found out we were to become big brothers with a little sister on the way.
Early on, whether I did it subconsciously or not, I became resolute in a mission within myself. I was determined to be the best example of a big brother I could be for younger brother and younger sister. I figured if I could keep my head on straight, then maybe the two behind me might follow in my footsteps. I decided to keep my nose clean and my head up--okay, for the most part--focusing on what was good and helping and strengthening those around me. I tried to be a good friend, nephew, grandson, son, and brother.
I watched my sister give a speech at church this morning. She was in front of those gathered, speaking on what her church has meant to her. Not to brag, but she gave me a shoutout.
I'm two for two on sibling shout outs. In case Dan forgets, I'll remember for him--he gave me a shoutout this time three years ago. I can't remember exactly what for. I think it was for being "the greatest big brother that ever walked this planet," or something along those lines.
As I sat out in the audience watching baby sister thanking a crowd for shaping her in that church, I sat back and took a big breath. I believe my mission is complete.
I can't do much more from this point forward. In three months short time, Beth will be heading out to the University of South Carolina (boo) to join other big brother. (Pause--Thanks for teaming up on me, jerks.) She'll be off to form her own self, off to join her own hand-picked groups, and off to meeting her own new friends and making her own decisions.
Dan's already been down that path for two years now at Carolina (again, boo). And I've been quite proud of what both of them have been able to accomplish and the paths they've taken.
I was so proud to know Dan had joined the high school cross country/track and field teams as a high schooler, after trying out for sports teams as a middle schooler. While he definitely got the athletic talent of the three of us, he was still bold enough to try out. When he earned a scholarship to run in college, I was proud again. And then after transferring to Carolina, he joined a college church group and has fallen right in line with those fine folks, and again I'm proud of that choice he has made. He's met a terrific young lass among that group (hi, Marissa) and again I'm proud. More than that, he also provided a terrific example for little sister and became a second great example for her.
We all had been badgering Beth for, what had to feel like in her mind the better portion of her junior and senior years (and maybe sophomore year too), about what colleges she was interested in and what she wanted to do in college. It only made sense, maybe, to figure out her life after both Dan and I had gone off to school. She never gave straight answers, as Beth is partial to doing. I'm pretty positive she told me at one point that she wanted to go to Yale to major in Native American studies--those were the kinds of answers she gave us. (I looked, they don't even have that major.)
So we were all kind of waiting to hear what Beth would choose for her college career. I called her back last fall during the middle of a school day and one of my teacher planning periods, and I asked her what her big news was that Mom kept bugging me about.
She told me that she wanted to be a middle school English teacher. I don't think she noticed that I wasn't quite as quick to answer as I normally might have been. I was a little shocked at the moment. First, because Beth had made a decision and wouldn't be pulling our collective leg anymore. But secondly because she was choosing a path that I had chosen some 17 months in advance. In that moment, I was one proud brother.
When I went away to school, Beth and Dan became pretty close and I'm glad that they will have each other for at least one year before Dan graduates from South Carolina. As for me, I'll be at home feeling pretty darn good that I think I succeeded in setting the tone for these two as they go forward. I have always been pleasantly surprised with what they have been capable of and have been impressed with the choices they have made. I set out on a mission to lead by example and I'm excited to see what they accomplish. I feel my mission has been a success.
I haven't said any of this straightforward to either one of them, I don't believe. Sometimes it's easier to write down words than say them out loud. Then edit them and re-read them and shift them around and then finalize them before they're out there. But then, I've always been interested in words. Whether reading them or writing them, words are what I do. Right, Beth?
In going to Clemson, there's obviously that rivalry with that school from the middle of the state. Most folks from my school don't like anything to do with USC. But I'm pleased to say I often root for two Gamecocks.
