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| Jay, Shane, Holly - at Gr & Gr Penny's |
As the years pass and my childhood falls further away, my childhood memories have become more prominent and profound. Along with the fact that this year marked the 20th anniversary of my brother Shane's death, and lately everything brings back a memory of childhood, I felt compelled to write about my family, primarily my brothers.
I grew up in a small northeast Nebraska town. I was the youngest of my siblings, both brothers, 10 and 8 years older than I. It was almost like being an only child since by 5th grade they were both graduated and moved out of the house, never to return on any permanent basis. Even so, I have lots of memories of being picked on by them, but also protected and loved. As I grew up, they were both there for me. Still my protectors and guardians.
My oldest brother, Jay, stayed in our hometown, got married and had a family. My brother Shane was the wanderer. He moved to California the day after graduation and never looked back. Even though they were both living their own adult lives, they still came together to look out and guide me.
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| Imagine that, I'm eating! |
There is a bridge in our hometown over the Elkhorn River. As kids swam and tubed in the river, most of the time without parents knowing it, skipping the local pool and biking to the river. We thought we were really rebels. One summer when Shane was visiting the two of us went there. Back in the day, spraying painting your professions of love on the bridge was the thing to do. If you were a guy, that was probably ok, but for a girl, especially the sister of Jay and Shane Vogltance, that was not ok. While under the bridge that day, Shane and I found that someone had painted my name, along with a boy's name, unbeknownst to me! I was mortified! I was not "dating" this boy (nor was I anywhere old enough to be dating period!) Apparently we were "in love"! ARGH!
Being the big brothers they were, looking out for their little sister, they set out to take care of it. Now this bridge sees a fair amount of traffic, and it required some work from the top and underneath to cover it up. Not an easy task, especially after they'd been out gaining liquid courage! The funniest moment of the story I can remember is when Jay was on the bridge, Shane was in the water telling him to throw down the flashlight, which he did, but not until after he turned it off, making it just a little harder to catch (or not catch as the story goes). I heard them talk about this story a few times, and laugh at the stupid lengths they would go to in order to protect the reputation of their little sister. I thought of them as my saviors!
Ironically, Jay now lives in a house he built with that bridge in his back yard. Many times I have sat on his back deck, looked at the bridge, and felt a smile creep on my face as I remember that story. Someday Jay needs to tell me that whole story again.
This may seem trivial to you, some small town stupid stunt. But to a pre-teen girl, my brothers just set the bar for me for all future relationships. Isn't that what a big brother, or 2, is supposed to do?
"In My Life" by The Beatles
There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more
