The Gonic Mafia

I had the distinct pleasure of growing up with these three people.....

  It must be said that we don't see each other nearly as much as we should. But what can you do when you have your own lives and responsibilities? Growing up with my two brothers was an experience all of its own. Thom was my savior and Mike was my tormentor. I was also the one left out of all the fun. Well, sometimes. It would depend on how much I wanted to play. At 9 I was allowed to participate in a hard core game of "Capture The Flag". All the boys laughed..[They are all laughing at me!] because I was little and a girl. But I was a NINJA at this game and still am...come on over, bring your friends....I dare ya. I won that game that night and won some serious brownie points with the boys in my house. For a moment I was one of the guys. In the house that we grew up in our closets were connected. I cannot tell you the number of times they snuck through and scared the ba-jeezus out of me. They fought and they were scrappy. I once saw them go at it over a baseball hat. Lets just say that I was in the bathroom calling my Mom. I think Dad showed up instead. Thom introduced me to music, rock-n-roll and was my friend. He left for the Military on my 12th birthday. I didn't even say goodbye. I was so mad at him for leaving me alone in the house with MIKE!! Who was going to protect me? What I didn't realize is that without Thom around there was no need for Mike to bother. I was now just someone he lived with and didn't know that well. I think we literally spent two years of our lives not even talking to each other. Except maybe to punch the other in the arm. I can't remember how long Thom was gone for when he came home to visit. He was delayed because he caught chicken pox. The night before he left....I came down with chicken pox. A week later Mike came down with chicken pox and shingles. I felt terrible for him. 

Not as bad as I did the day he left his Red Sox batting helmet at a restaurant. I was pretty sure that it was fixed to his head. My memory of this is not that clear. We may have been camping or on vacation. I know that we were not close to home. A while later after we had left the restaurant Mike flipped out! I FORGOT MY HAT!!! We turned around, it was gone. I felt terrible for him. Nothing to say, absolutely nothing I could do [because he hated me you know] just sit there. 

I remember the Fourth of July weekend my parents spontaneously declared that we were going to drive to Up State NY. Get a hotel on Lake Champlain. Ummmm guys its Fourth of July. We found a hotel...I had to share a room with my brother --- yuck. We were still not speaking to each other. 

After they were both gone away into the Military it was me and my Seestah. I did everything with this girl. Dressed her up, danced, watched her dance, make birthday cakes, take her trick-or-treating in sub zero temperature. Visit her at school terrorize her just a little bit because hey thats just what you do. I took her bra shopping because my Mom said she was having a difficult time with it. So, off we went. I was so excited she got really mad at me and started crying. I just stood there and laughed at her. Thinking at least Thom and Mike aren't here to hang them off the lights! Now that was embarrassing. She slept with me when she had a bad dream even though she stank like a dirty bear cub..."Coodah Breath" She got so sick one night I was convinced that she was going to die. She just puked and puked and puked and then puked some more. She mirrored me and my friend Sarah - To this day she'll come up with something that I forgot about.

Boy - when we fight...WE FIGHT! We'll toss out a verbal tongue lashing that would make the strongest of the strongest crumble to their knees. But look out - cause if anyone outside of us makes an off handed comment we'll turn on you. I find this dynamic between siblings so fascinating. We can cut each other up. Sometimes we do it without even meaning to. But we always love each other. No matter what. I'm glad I had the chance to grow up with two brothers who were so frogs and snails and puppy dog tails. Because I also had the chance to grow up with sugar and spice and everything nice! And that friends is a little insight of "THE GONIC MAFIA"