Nathan's in Love

It's not what you think. Nathan's love comes in the body of an almost six foot brunette surfer fresh from Peru. Yep, older brother Bruce is back in town.

When Bruce got back in town, Nathan went from being next to me most of the day to being a Bruce satellite. Then Bruce did the greatest thing he could have done for 8 year old Nathan. He started looking at trucks to buy on the internet.

Nathan could have spent months scouring Craig's List and talking about the choices while perched on the arm of Bruce's chair. Nathan now had the greatest things in his life - a 25 year old brother, home for a undefinable amount of time, AND they were looking at trucks.

I didn't notice it was love until a few weeks into the devotion. Nathan follows Bruce from room to room. If Bruce drops something, Nathan picks it up promptly, redelivering. At first we worried that Bruce would feel suffocated, but Bruce has kind of enjoyed having his own personal assistant. Nathan, who has daydreamed away the first 8 years of his life, could remember in exact detail, every appointment, every paper, every article of Bruce's belongings, and their dispursement throughout the house. At breakfast one morning, Bruce said out loud, "I don't know if I can go tomorrow," when were were thinking of some vague day trip. Nathan immediately chirped, "No, you can't. You have a doctor's appointment. And then you have to go to Mike's and get that license plate."

I stared at Nathan. If shoes weren't shaped slightly differently, Nathan would never know how to put them on the right feet. He's too busy being preoccupied. When it came to Bruce, he knew everything, and he knew it exactly. It was kind of shocking to see that, wow, our little boy has a sharp, focused mind when he decides to clear out all those puffy white clouds.

Luckily, Bruce happens to be the greatest older brother alive in the universe today. He takes Nathan everywhere with him, IN the truck. They go Frisbee golfing. They go skateboarding. They eat pancakes. They shaved Bruce's head. They walk the dogs. They buy slurpees. They wrestle. Bruce has given him love, support, humor and sage advice. They are making the 16 years between them shrink into a soft bump.

I only wish they'd had each other sooner.

If I had known when I met Bruce (and he was 7, and I was 25) that someday he'd have brothers and sisters, and that they'd come from me - I would've burst out laughing. This shy little guy on the playground? And me?

I wish they could've known each other sooner. But you should see the love with this guy, with Bruce and with Emma and the baby. Having Barry as their dad is one great, loving, strong influence they'll realize later. But having Barry give them Bruce - this is the ultimate. He's given them someone they'll grow with their whole lives.