A few Random Observations About Brothers

 I struggled a while trying to tie these random thoughts into one flowing and brilliantly written essay, but got tired of racking my brain and impatient.  So here they are, in very rough form.  Perhaps some day I will find a way to connect these notes together (but I doubt it.)

• Have you every noticed the significant role that brothers have played in the drama of history?  Some of the most well-known stories of the Bible hinge around brothers.  Remember Cane and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his eleven, Moses and Aaron?  What about Peter and Andrew, James and John?  Four out of Jesus' twelve disciples had a brother on the crew.  Moreover, in history we also know about Orville and Wilbur / Zues, Posiedon and Hades (Mythology) / Tiberius and Gaius / Adolf and Jeremiah (okay, I made up Jeremiah.)  Then there are current-day famous brothers of entertainment.  Too numerous to compile even a decent list, but to name a few: Alec, Daniel and Stephen Baldwin / Owen, Luke and Andrew Wilson (who's Andrew?), Barack and George Obama (not so entertaining), Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen, and of course, the Marx Bros., Warner Bros., Mario Bros., and the Jonas Bros. (you knew that was coming.)

• A brother is placed in one's life without needing consent.  (I suppose all siblings are, but this is a blog about brothers.)  My brother, Joel didn't need to sign a permission slip before I came.  He wasn't required to fill out a request form.  He simply inherited me and I inherited him.  This is not a complaint; it is an observation.

• Brother is an affectionate term used outside of the sibling setting to imply loyalty to one another, and shared experiences or struggles.

• All brothers start as boys, but not all end up as men... even when they're grown.