Today is my brother Roger's birthday. The photo shows what he looked like in the first grade. Too bad the photo is a bit worn. I suppose he still looks more or less like the little boy in the photo with some years added on, but I don't think his ears stick out so much any more.We used to have to walk quite a distance to get to the school bus and walk the same distance to get home after school. There was an old abandoned house on our route, and everybody knows that old abandoned houses are haunted so we always hurried past that. However, in the afternoon little Roger was tired and used to fall into deep ditches and couldn't get out. Not too long ago he told me that it wasn't true - that he could get out. Well, I knew that! I just wanted to get home, get my homework done and watch the Mickey Mouse Club. Another time we found a big bag of groceries that we thought some hunters had left, and on top of the bag was a bag of chocolate drops, which we loved. We didn't see anybody around and were just about to help ourselves when somebody jumped out from behind a tree. We took off running as fast as our little legs could carry us. The person, who turned out to be our father, quickly caught up with Roger, but I was almost home before he caught me.
And here's one of the most stupid things Roger did. This time our sister Diana was with us. There was a big snow on and he asked me if I dared him to stick his head in a snow drift. I answered that I didn't care what he did. If old abandoned houses are haunted, then all snow drifts are hiding a sharp rock. He was wearing a cap, which didn't protect his silly head from such a sharp rock, because when he took his head out of the snow there was blood everywhere. We didn't know that head wounds, even small cuts like he had, were more scandalous than dangerous. We thought he was bleeding to death and took off running home again. That's one time we all got home early. I think he learned his lesson about snow drifts.
On Roger's birthday, I'd like to think he'll be celebrating it with his grandkids. He probably doesn't see them often enough. Hope it's a very happy day and somebody remembers that his favourite cake is chocolate with caramel frosting.
Happy Birthday Roger!
ReplyDeleteNice story Brenda, it's fun to reminisce about those good old days. My nephew had an ear that sort of flew but outgrew it too. We used to laugh about it.
I love those old school pictures. They weren't made to last forever, but a scan will surely keep it so. We all seemed to survive those bloody moments lol and ran like the wind when they happened. I'm sure he had a new slant on innocent looking snow drifts. He sounds like quite a character. In the photo he seems to have a mischievous glint in his eye and a "Dennis the Menace" expression lol.
Hopefully he will have his favorite birthday treat and be with his grandkids.
Roger, happy birthday.
ReplyDeleteHe was such a cutie, your brother Roger. Hope he has a swell birthday today. Surely some of the family that lives near him remembered he likes chocolate cake with caramel frosting, and either bought or made him one. That even sounds yummy to me. If you talk to him today, you should ask.
ReplyDeleteLoved hearing more about your family. It connects us all, I think. Our families aren't so different. I didn't know you had a sister named Diana too. lol Or at least I didn't remember you did, if I knew.
The funny thing is she's also Diana H, but she's on Multiply as hillsofky (DH) I think. She's just joined.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Roger, save some cake for us, xo
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