My Dad with my oldest daughter, my Son and my brother's step-daughter taken Christmas of 1986 (before Janna was born).

On a personal note, although our softball season is now finished (sob, sob), it is, naturally, time for reflection.  In addition to the successful season the girls had on the field, there have been some additional benefits of this time.

As a few of you may have read at one time or another, my brother and I have not always been close.  Not my choice, but ... I guess just a result of LIFE. 

I am the oldest (true to the firstborn stereotype) and my dear "baby" brother spent a good portion of his formative years playing "catch up" to me.  In my early life, I was a record setting swimmer; he tried but was not as good.  I was an award winning musician;  he tried but was not quite as good.  yada, yada, yada

When I graduated from high school, I left ... went away to Boston for college, then to the Army for 3 years, got out of the Army and stayed in Alaska for 3 years!  He partied out of college and decided (after I rejected the offer) to take over my Dad's business.  He lived at home until he was 31 and married my now sister-in-law (formerly my best friend).  Thus began a deep seated jealousy in him although I'm not sure he even wa aware of it. 

So anyway, he took over Dad's business and made a go of it ... He was NOT my Dad, but he is a businessman and it continued to be a profitable institution until 30 April 2005 when the doors closed for the last time.  Suffice it to say he received a 7 digit figure buy-out.  This, naturally, added fuel to the embers on my side,  not that I deserved a large chunk, but a token offering would have been appreciated.  After all, he knows how hard I'm having to work right now and how much my kids have had to do without ... but that's beside the point, I suppose. 

When I left home and made a go of my life with college and the Army etc, there were a few occasions when I fell on my face and needed help from Mom and Dad.  A couple hundred $$$ here and there.  This became another point of resentment for him while he played it safe and lived at home forever.  He doesn't see that he, too, was still dependent on Mom & Dad in a lot of ways.  He took over my Dad's VERY successful (successful financially AND it had also become part of the local culture!)  business.  Anyway, as in many families, MONEY has become a seperator. 

Over the course of this softball season, however, since they are no longer working, I was able to "visit" with them on a regular basis on neutral ground and with a mutual interest.  It has been good!  Last night, after coming in second for the season, we had our softball party ( at an $800+ home - whew!  What a home!)  I am hopeful that perhaps holidays dinners together can be revived and maybe more ...   My brother and I stioll have the money issues to work through, but ... I am hopeful that my own real estate career will get me to safe ground before too long. 

What Your Dreams Mean...

Your dreams seem to show that you're a very well adjusted and happy person. Overall, you are very content in your life. You have a very vivid imagination and a rich creative mind.