My Brother

Out in front in Sri Lanka.

My brother is your quintessentially British eccentric.

He doesn’t drive and never has. At the age of 18 which is when you can get a driving license in the UK, he decided he didn’t want to drive, provoked in part by an accident he was in when his friend drove them into a ditch – I suppose it makes a little sense.

He doesn’t own and has never used a computer.  Almost unbelievable, but oh so true.

He loves cricket…how eccentric can you be?  Actually lots of Brits love cricket, so I suppose I can’t really count that.  Although in my opinion there’s something a little eccentric about the game itself.  Just my opinion.

He loves the Times crossword puzzle, that’s the New York Times, not The  British Times and can even finish it…sometimes.

He won’t see a Doctor under almost any circumstances…doesn’t believe in them.

He was an out-of-the-box kid.  Our parents were at a loss as how to punish him for poor behaviour because he never reacted the way little boys were supposed to.

He was part of a group of ten year olds that called themselves The Black Hand Gang and they left notices in all our neighbour’s letter boxes (a mail slot  in the front door of a house)  with dire threats writ large in childish hand and a blotchy ink imprint of a small boy’s hand.

Our outraged neighbours were apparently seeking drastic punishment for the culprits and my brother was grounded for a month.  That’s one whole month, which to me as a ten year old would have been an eternity.  To my brother it was one big yawn, Ok I’ll just stay in my room and read comics.  And he basically did.

Towards the end of the month our parents, being the real softies they were, relented and told him he could join my sister and me at the movies.  But my month isn’t up yet he proclaimed.   Yes indeedy that’s my brother.

The great thing about my brother’s eccentricity is that he has nothing to prove and nothing he wants to gain.  He’s supremely confident, even as that small boy, and doesn’t seek others approval nor does he mind their disapproval.  He finds everyone fascinating and amusing, especially himself.  And most importantly, he doesn’t judge.  And I admire him.

Happy birthday big Bro’.   I love you lots.