My brother Jeff is three years younger than me, and he has always been more introverted when it comes to his emotions. I think I understood him from a young age, though, and we got along well. We were the two Night Owls (out of five kids) and when school was out, we would stay up late watching Channel 7 (CBN) as they broadcasted old television shows. We watched George Burns and Gracie Allen, Jack Benny, Bachelor Father, I Married Joan, Dobie Gillis and Blondie on a regular basis. Typically we would get tired and go to bed around 2 am when the 700 Club would come on. Jeff and I, along with my younger brother Greg, would also spend every Saturday night from 10pm until midnight watching World Class Championship Wrestling (KTVT Channel 11) starring the Von Erichs. Oh, how we believed those story lines! At least to a certain degree. While other kids wanted toys from the store, my brothers always got Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine. We played baseball together, we played tag football, and we had Friday night "snack night" when our parents would let us have sandwiches and chips for dinner while we watched The Dukes of Hazzard.
It seems like we did all of those things for years, but in the Sixth Grade I matured a little and began hanging out at the skating rink with my friends. The Von Erichs weren't my heroes any longer. The baseball and football games slowly ceased as the neighborhood grew up. Even then, it made me a little sad.
I still love my brothers dearly, and I believe that Jeff and I are still the Night Owls. He has two teenagers and two little girls, and he adores them. I have my three. We are both teachers. He is still not one to be overly emotional, but I really think that my childhood was so special- and he is a big reason.
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