As long as I remember he has always been there. We are only 17 months apart in age my junior. We had a bond only brothers can have. He was my roommate, my shadow and my responsibility. At the age of 10 he had a tragic accident falling out of the back of our station wagon onto the pavement while delivering newspapers hitting his head. That day, as Kenny Chesney would say, is where I grew up. The outcome of the life saving surgery, was not in our favor. He went into a coma that lasted for an eternity. Every second seemed like hours, every hour seemed like days, every day seemed like years. I was 11 and couldn’t bare to think what was the odds on likely outcome. After 3 of the longest weeks known to a boy, the miracle happened and my brother woke up and came home a few days later. I went into my parents room to get something and I didn’t even recognize him. He was so fragile looking, skinny and weak. He grew stronger every day as mom walked him tirelessly to build him up. I remember how hard it was for him to even walk out the house and down the down the driveway all of 50’. The next few years, my older brother and I were the last people you wanted to see if you laid a hand on ‘lil bro. We rarely let him out of our sight. I have been blessed beyond anything I deserve for my brother has been, with a short burst of exceptions, very close in proximity to me. The exceptions are when I graduated high school and left for A&M, graduating A&M and entered the work force. We all went to Texas A&M University, following big bro. After he graduated, we again became roommates. He moved out when he found his true love and got married. Even so, we still live within 5 miles of each other.
Long story short, there is a strength that he possesses that is unknown to me. An inner strength that is off the charts unfathomable. While in college he started riding a bike at speeds not known by mortals, and took pride in getting speeding tickets while using only his thighs for horsepower. He did in fact receive several. He ran a few marathons and admitted the most challenging task he volunteered for. He didn’t stop dreaming of larger challenges.
Fast forward to Tuesday night...lil’ bro asked me to do him a favor and shave his head. He said for 30 years he has been afraid of the scar that was earned as a kid. He was afraid he would look like Frankenstein. So I shaved his head. It didn’t look as bad as I remember either.
Saturday he was in another race. This one was local and I was able to go. I was unable to go to the last race in Kona last year as my kids were in school and mom needed to go and watch the race. Yes, my lil’ bro IS an IRONMAN. He has done three, Florida, Hawaii (World Championship) and Texas this last Saturday. If you ask my brother, he will likely down play his significance and influence in my life. However, I am here to say I admire him. I love him. I respect him. And I am blessed to have all these memories that were so close to not be a reality. I am a Christian and I thank God everyday for my blessings.
His race time:
2.4 mile swim: 1:11:51
112 mile bike: 5:15:44
26.2 mile run: 4:23:21
Total Race Time: 11:04:14
Long story short, there is a strength that he possesses that is unknown to me. An inner strength that is off the charts unfathomable. While in college he started riding a bike at speeds not known by mortals, and took pride in getting speeding tickets while using only his thighs for horsepower. He did in fact receive several. He ran a few marathons and admitted the most challenging task he volunteered for. He didn’t stop dreaming of larger challenges.
Fast forward to Tuesday night...lil’ bro asked me to do him a favor and shave his head. He said for 30 years he has been afraid of the scar that was earned as a kid. He was afraid he would look like Frankenstein. So I shaved his head. It didn’t look as bad as I remember either.
Saturday he was in another race. This one was local and I was able to go. I was unable to go to the last race in Kona last year as my kids were in school and mom needed to go and watch the race. Yes, my lil’ bro IS an IRONMAN. He has done three, Florida, Hawaii (World Championship) and Texas this last Saturday. If you ask my brother, he will likely down play his significance and influence in my life. However, I am here to say I admire him. I love him. I respect him. And I am blessed to have all these memories that were so close to not be a reality. I am a Christian and I thank God everyday for my blessings.
His race time:
2.4 mile swim: 1:11:51
112 mile bike: 5:15:44
26.2 mile run: 4:23:21
Total Race Time: 11:04:14
