A First of the Year

So 2004 was indeed, "A Year of Firsts" and this post is the first non-cruise post of 2005. Since I was too busy partying this past week, I didn't have the luxury to think about all the absolutes 2005 will hold. Some things to look forward to include turning a quarter of a century (for you math whizzes and people who can't tell the time unless its a digital clock, that is 25) my brother graduates high school and begins college, I will want to date/hook up with someone whose first name ends with a vowel (actually that happened within minutes/hours of the ball dropping, so much for following my own advice), will attend second wedding for a best friend, oh yeah and become a millionaire thanks to VitruvianMen, LLC. [Editor's Note: Please be on the look out for an email from AristocraCity officially inviting people to subscribe this week and a Super Bowl invite]

Probably the most shocking first was a feeling I had while on the cruise. While hanging out with my brother and two girls from my hometown whom I had never met it dawned on me, I'm old. That's right for the first time I felt my age. I felt too old. Sometimes even I forget that just cause I get carded for a 16 and over club (that actually happened on the cruise) that I am indeed 24. The three of them were discussing the high school we all attended at somepoint. Teachers were discussed and people who are still there, and I didn't have a fucking clue who 99% of them were. It was then that I realized aging comes in different forms, physical, mental and emotional. Externally, I could definitely attend college for my brother and not raise any eye brows, but man or should I say boy would the conversation suck. I finally got how one of my friends feels hanging out with all my friends who are 3 years her junior, and we are only 2.5 years or 3 grades younger. At that table I was 8 grades older than the youngest and 5 grades older than the oldest.

By their own admission, the sisters my brother and I were sitting with said they weren't close. They are 3 years apart in age and it actually annoyed me hearing that they weren't close. While the age difference isn't a barometer with which to base closeness, the closer in age, the fact is you can be more involved in a siblings life. There is no way to turn back time and there will always be things we wish we could have done but didn't have time to do. While I had no control over it (our 6.5 year age difference), I'd turn back time for one reason and one reason alone, to see my brother grow up. That's right, attend all the soccer games and tennis matches I missed, meet his friends, and see him age. Over the holidays I saw old pictures from when I was 13, he was 6 and from my high school graduation and while I now what he looks like, I don't know how get there. The last time I lived at home he was 10 that is 6th grade. Think how much we all changed from 6th grade till the time we graduated high school... its startling.

I get that one may hate their sibling at times and it may seem like you have nothing in common, but the next time you choose sleeping, going to the mall or getting drunk over attending something important to your sibling realize you'll never be able to turn back time and see that goal or flawless performance. At the end parents, friends and spouses/lovers will be gone, but siblings will be there if you let them. So if your New Year's resolutions revolved around going to the gym, partying less/more or any other trivial aspect of your life and your not close with your sibling well I think you have a new resolution. AristocraCity included!