Memories of an Older Brother
You grow up much faster when you have an older brother. You go places you shouldn’t go, and you do things that you shouldn’t do. For many years at the Post Office or other public places, most would see me and say Hello Gene – I always said he was the much older brother and I was much better looking. But today you can call me Gene.
I recall when he “fell” out the back car door, well maybe we were fighting, in our new Studebaker while it was moving, he got banged up. Later we were shooting bows and arrows (made from tree branches) with a neighbor and Gene got hit in the eye, and all the angst – either time it could have been me, but Gene did much more with 1 eye than most do with 2. Flying and as an Army Reservist.
One time when I was playing basketball on our dirt court Gene was working at our service station and he came running out and told me very seriously there was a doctor with a glass neck at the station, my thoughts there was a carnival freak show had stopped and so we all went running and he pulled out a Dr. Pepper – older than I should have been to fall for that.
When Gene married Vivian they tried to elope but hit some ice in Oklahoma and had a wreck, so they came back to our home and had the marriage ceremony.
Gene spent the last 9 years in the nursing home, many thought he had already died, my visits were only appreciated when I brought women, either family or friends, then he would really light up.
Gene had a very interesting life, and there are some things you may not know
Most people eat beef and pork, cattle and pigs, Gene raised them!
Most people drive cars, but Gene worked on them!
Most people watch TVs, but Gene fixed them! (Even when the test pattern was the most popular program)
Most people live in houses or apartments, but Gene built and sold them!
Gene rode his bike 6 miles to town, while most people just watchedhim!
Most just use computers, while Gene fixed them!
Most people take pictures, while Gene had a darkroom, and developedthem!
Most people are just happy to fly in a plane, while Gene serviced them! And flew them!
Most people spend dollars, while Gene made them! , mostly legal.
Most people under-appreciate their families, while Gene just lovedthem!
IF - Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!
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