Friday - Kid Brother

[ninanevermore]

Today on the drive into work, I was thinking about my younger brother, Ron. In a family full of odd balls, he makes me look someone normal. I feel grateful to him for this.

Some years ago, he got into some New Age ideas and began talking to his Spirit Guilds. At first, I found this intriguing and was willing to listen to what his Spirit Guilds had to say. Unfortunately, his Guilds and I got into it and hostility ensued.

It was Ron who started it all by offering to consult his Spirit Guides for me on any topic I wanted. We were sitting outside of a Starbucks on a busy intersection, so that Ron could smoke while he drank his coffee.

I was planning my wedding at the time, so I asked him about my fiance.

Ron closed his eyes and concentrated. "They aren't sure about him," he told me, "they say that he may not be right for you."

Since my own Guides and internal instincts had told me different, I decided that Ron's were possibly full of crap. Still, I thought I would give them another chance. I was still agonizing over whether I would or should ever be a mother.

"What do the voices in your head say about me having a baby?" I asked.

Ron scowled at me. "They aren't voices," he said. "Don't call them that. It doesn't work that way."

"Whatever," I said, "Am I having any kids?"

Still scowling slightly, he closed his eyes. "One," he said slowly, "I see a daughter. She looks a lot like you, with your face and hair color."

"Ugh. Poor baby," I said. For the record, 8 years later I do have one child - a son. Sadly, he actually does look a lot like me, so I guess Ron's guilds should get half credit on that one.

Not entirely displeased on the results of the offspring question, in spite of the future child's unfortunate appearance, I decided to try one more question. These things are traditionally done in threes, after all.

"Am I ever going to write a book and be published?" I asked.

Once again, Ron's eyes closed. He tilted his head, like he was listening to someone. At last, he shook his head. "No, they don't see it. That's not your path."

I mulled over this for a moment or two before I responded.

"Tell the voices in your head," I said with a crooked smile, "that I said 'screw them,'" Ron looked startled.

For some reason, he doesn't talk about his spiritual beliefs with me anymore. I'm not sure why.

Comments

[neanahe.livejournal.com]

Hold on, I thought that everyone was mad at the old man and had been accusing him of being cruel and abusive? Now that he's been dead 20+ years, they're all talking to him from beyond the grave?

Cousin, our gene pool needs to come with a sign that says, "Swim at your own Risk!"