Brothers . . .

It's interesting because growing up I did not have any brothers, only a sister.  My sister and I were and are very close and I never felt like I was missing out on anything.  I wouldn't trade her for anybody else either!  She is the best sister a girl could ask for.   However . . .

I discovered later in life the value of brothers.  My husband, Brian, was the youngest of three brothers and I used to hear all of these stories about how mean they were to him growing up and how they used to pick on him (although I have a feeling Brian would give as good as he got even back then); and all of the many trials and tribulations of being brothers.  Never having had brothers, I was amused by his stories and wondered how anyone could put up with them.   

Brian and I met when I was 19 years old.  He was and is the love of  my life.  His family has become my family.  His two older brothers became my brothers.  Now before I get all sappy on you, believe me when I say it has not been all hearts and roses.  There have been many thorns in our relationships with each other over the years.  There have also been many good times too.    Over the years, I have appreciated the relationship Brian has had with both of them.  Each relationship being different.  

Brian's oldest brother, Gary, is 10 years older that Brian; and his other brother, Dennis, is three years older than Brian.    Brian and Dennis being closer in age I think spent more time together growing up and still to this day have a brotherly relationship that is at once good, bad and ugly.  They are very different; but yet the same.  The both love to laugh; they both work hard; and they both take the best care of their families that they can.  I love Dennis dearly; he is very precious to me.  He and his wife, Lisa, have given Brian and I a lovely niece and a crazy nephew to love.  So very precious they all been in my life. 

Brian has long adored and admired his oldest brother.  Being 10 years older, I imagine as a boy Brian saw Gary as a hero.  In fact, the very first time I met Gary everyone in the family was saying "Brian's hero is coming".  Being completely honest here, I was shocked at "Brian's hero".  He came riding up on an old Harley (it was so loud!) wearing ripped up jeans, black t-shirt, and biker jacket and boots.  He pulled right up into the yard on his bike and got off like the hero he was.  He seemed a lot bigger than Brian, taller and beefier.  He had long blondish hair pulled back in a ponytail and a huge smile on his face.  I could tell that he enjoyed the ride on his bike.  At the time, I was a little disappointed that Brian's hero was just an old biker .  Really.  It's true.  

The thing is I later appreciated the fact that Gary was just an old biker.  He was just real.  There was nothing fake about him.  He was who he was and he didn't really care if you liked him or not.  Believe me, as a people-pleaser from birth, that was probably my favorite thing about him.  He was just Gary.  He never felt the need to be anybody else.  

Brian and Gary spent a lot of time together.  They went fishing together and would brag often of their catches.  Having gone with them on occasion, I am glad they had pictures to back up their stories!  Gary loved camping and the outdoors.  After Brian and I got our motorcycle, we spent some good days riding with Gary - he on his Harley and us on our Suzuki Boulevard.  Gary, although he never admitted it to his brother, liked Brian's bike; however, when a man once said "those are a couple of nice-looking Harleys" . . .  

Every year at Christmas, Brian and I would buy Gary the same thing - I made sure he a new pair of blue jeans and Harley shirt - and Brian always got him the latest video game along with something Gary had need of.   He loved his video games and would tell me all about them.  Not that I cared in the least, video games have never appealed to me.  But whatever made him happy made me happy.  He was not much into material things always just wanted to spend Christmas with us hanging out and enjoying our time together.  He always bought me something interesting - either a piece of jewelry or a figurine of some kind.  One year he gave Brian a sweatshirt which is funny because Brian hates long-sleeves.  I still wear that sweatshirt around the house.  It's  way too big for me and for Brian.  I wonder if Gary thought Brian would give it back if it didn't fit?

There are so many interesting stories one could tell about this oldest brother.  He was at once lovable and aggravating.  I remember him telling us about his pet snake.  It was a Burmese (sp) python and he would take it out of is cage and let is crawl around and lay on him.  Now most people, well normal people, wouldn't do that; but Gary not being quite normal . . . He was going to get up from his chair and the snake was wrapped around him sleeping I guess when he nudged it so he could get up.  The snake reacted by trying to squeeze the life out of him.  He was alone and had to get the snake to let him go.  The man almost choked to death because of his pet!  I think I yelled at him that day.  Crazy man.

He loved to get one over on me too.  One night we had gone to eat at his house.  He made chili.  It was pretty tasty.  I remarked how good it was and he just smiled.  I went to get another bowl when he mentioned the meat was not beef or turkey but deer.  He knew I did not like to think about eating deer as I had mentioned this before.  But now he was letting me eat Bambi!  I did not eat another bite and for a while refused to eat any of his food.  He and Brian just laughed.  Thanks guys! 

As is the case with brothers that are heroes, Brian would go to Gary to help him out of jams.  One night he went to Gary because some guys had threatened to beat him and his buddies up.  Gary was like "ok what kind of weapons do I need - bat? pipe?  what?".   Brian told him just yourself.  As he was leaving, he told his   girlfriend he was going out to "kick some ass", and she merely replied "ok, bring back some milk and bread".      He did not have to kick anything as the guys scurried away when he stepped out.  That was the way of the oldest brother.  Brian often tells this story.  He loves it.  

He was there when Brian and I were married and my biker brother came dressed up in a suit.  I have a picture of him sitting on the couch at the wedding and he looked so sweet in his suit.  Although, seriously seeing a biker in a suit is just strange!! 

Gary also gave Brian and I our most troublesome niece, Tara.  She is as lovable and aggravating as her dad. I have been so upset with her at times and yet I can't quite stop giving in to her either. She is my niece and I love her dearly.  I love her the way she is as warts and all.  It was the same way with Gary.  I could not stopping loving him if my life depended on it   

Over time, Gary became my brother.  He and I would often disagree on various things; but never did that affect our love for each other.  He always gave me the best hugs.  I felt safe in his arms and I never worried that anything would ever bad would happen to me when he was around.  I felt so blessed to have him in my life because he treated me with respect and affection.  He would always be a gentlemen with me.  I trusted him to have my back and he never let me down. 

He was, after all, just a big old biker.  

Gary passed away in 2006 and we had his funeral on October 21 his birthday. 

In memory of my sweet biker brother - Gary Johnson - RIP brother