happy birfday jimnerd

on july 28, 1982, my little world welcomed my little brother, commonly known to all my readers as jimnerd. we shared countless hours together in the coming years. in the winters we were bundled up and kicked out the door and filled the time sledding and building snow forts and finally we would be called in for hot chocolate and a snack. in the summers we would have swimming lessons and on the weekends we would ride on the boat and swim out to the raft and help dad with projects where we learned to hammer nails and love the smell of freshly cut lumber. one of my earliest memories, in fact, is a distinct feeling i had when i attended a day camp for girl scouts; i remember missing my sidekick immensely and not understanding why he couldn't join me at the camp.

as we grew up, our family moved a couple of times and in doing so we had to be friends to one another first, because there was always some stretch of time after moving into a new house before the neighborhood kids befriended us. even then, i joined the boys in riding bikes, playing army, and kicking the football around. once i made a couple of good girl friends we would all play in the woods for entire days at a time, building forts, exploring streams, and ignoring the tv.

and now, with me at 29 and jimnerd at 27, it all feels like it went way too fast. he is someone i admire each day - he sets his mind to things and accomplishes them no matter what. he has found a spectacular partner in his fiance and being in their presence is relaxing and lighthearted, even when jimnerd is displaying the family trait of being tired, hungry, or cranky or some combination of the three. he gives himself time for his passion - riding his motorcycle - and allows himself to dream. and anyone the gorilla loves that much must be a pretty amazing person, too, because she is a picky dog.

i'll be out at the cabin this time tomorrow. dad will probably be letting me nap as he works on a project of some sort, or maybe we'll go for an afternoon boat ride if i am feeling up to it. i am looking forward to the quiet in the coming days and in spending time with dad. then, i am excited for time with my good friend and traveling partner as we explore bayfield and hopefully get to kayak on lake superior, one of my homes away from home for my soul. we'll also spend time in minneapolis as she shows me corners of her new life there and maybe i can dig up some old memories to share, too.

those times will be wonderful, but once my entire family joins us a week from tomorrow my heart will be full. there will be a couple of evenings at the lake when it is just us, and i will be sure to load up my heart with those times. to hear their voices filling the spaces indoors and out; to wake up to the smell of dad's breakfast; to listen to one another falling asleep - those are things i do not take for granted and those are the things that make our lake home so precious and important to me.

our family has great memories and time invested in that place, and we are lucky to share it. there will also be a celebration for a cousin and time with relatives, and more than anything i want to have some moments to share with my grandpa. i always learn something from him each time i see him. as you can see in the photo above, jimnerd and i were always eager to be at his side, listening to whatever he had to say to us.

i'm lucky in so many ways, to have my family, to have my grandpa, to have the lake, and to have my brother.

happy birthday jim.