I got hit by a truck named weather this week and went straight under. (I got sick, and it made me have a sad face.) It turned out to be quite the inconvenience for multiple reasons. There was the usual loss of money from missing work, loss of knowledge from missing class and loss of comfort from infectious invaders who inhabited my respiratory system. However, the one inconvenience that I was not expecting was that it would cause me to miss another epic
Sakievich Family Gathering!!!
My older brother and his wife live in Tucson and so family gatherings are usually dictated on when they decide to drive up from the belly of hell where they live. I live a bit more than half way between them and my parent's house so it is pretty easy for me to head on over to Mother and Father's when Adam and Emily drive up. Easy when I'm not ill that is. Our family is the most fun when we are all together so we can be in full swing. There is usually a large amount of bantering, including but not limited to personal insults, reminiscent recollections of childhood and wrestling in the pool.
One of the main keys to making these gatherings a success is putting my brother Adam and me together. Adam and I are the two eldest children. We are 18 months apart and were roommates from the day mom and dad moved me out of the laundry basket until the day Adam left on his mission. We have a long childhood history which Adam likes to sum up in this catchy phrase,
"I beat him often, but he beat me well."
As the years have passed and the scars healed we came together. Needless to say we can't be described by the phrase "two peas in a pod," but don't let that fool you. If I am a Yin then Adam is a Yang; we work perfectly together and nothing could tear us apart. Today I was reminded of that yet again.
As stated earlier, I was not able to make it to the family gathering today, but my family didn't leave me out to dry. They came out to see me tonight. They brought dinner, cinnamon rolls and the Sakievich family touch. Here's what I mean: my Mother ended up cutting my roommate's hair, my Dad read my business proposal, Adam reached over and changed the song whenever he thought it was odd (it was my "art" playlist) and we were able to harass Aaron into playing the bongos while I played the guitar. Perfect.
Eventually Mother, Father and Aaron had to leave (the young ones didn't come on this trip), but Adam and Emily stayed for an extra hour to hang out. We just sat and talked about several different things, but I think the most memorable subject was when we discussed having days to do nothing. These are some quotes from Adam (he's a philosophy major and a genius if the quotes don't give it away).
To me: "I admire your ability to go after your goals with such dogged determination and Spartan mentality."
To me: "Isn't it counterintuitive that you need to expend effort to organize your time so that you can have more time to do nothing?"
"I probably spend too much time doing what I want to do. I'll often be reading a book instead of doing something I should. Like going to class…"
To Emily: "I like being quoted. This should happen more often! You should carry around a little book and write down the things I say."
To me: "That is where I am different from you I find my joy in life outside my goals."
That really sums up a lot of Adam and me. Where I need to relax he needs to tighten up and vice a versa. I think part of the reason why our bond is so deep is because we each get to emulate and be the emulator at the same time. Cynically speaking, I get to look down at him while looking up to his example, and I am sure he enjoys the same experience.
Adam: "I am getting a reptile for Christmas! Or an amphibian."
Emily: (Rolls her eyes and puts her head back)
Philip: (Looks at Emily and says), "How does it feel to be married to a five year old?" (Mocking voice) "I want a reptile and a pineapple* for Christmas!"
Group: (Laughter)
End Scene.
*Every year for the past five or so years Adam has asked for and received a pineapple for Christmas, his birthday or both.
