I asked my brother what he wanted for Christmas a while back. He said that he lived vicariously through me – all the sites and places I go, and for once, he’d just like to travel with me.
This touched me and I filed the notion away.
A week before this past holiday, we were driving around and I asked him if he could live anywhere, where would he live. He mentioned Phoenix – ’cause of the warmth (though he’s never been there). Later in the conversation he told me that the boot and country store was going out of business and he just bought a cowboy hat on a lark.
The idea I had rolling around seemed kismet. I got online that evening and got us two tickets to Phoenix for a rodeo in January (now fast approaching).
On Christmas Day, at my sisters, he unwrapped my gift: a whole set of CDs i mixed – 17 in all. The final mix was country music. Pop country stuff. Standard fare of the radio and CMT.
Inside the last cover, hidden almost, was flight and hotel information for the Phoenix Rodeo.
He looked up across the room when he eventually found it. As everyone sat oogling their own presents, I connected with his eyes and he was welling up, i could tell. “Is this for real?” he said just loud enough for me to hear.
I smiled and nodded.
The rodeo is this weekend and I’ve got another small gift in store. A feller named Harley started a website for folks to meet up at the gay rodeos. I’ve been helping with the website and figured it’d be nice to give him a hand printed t-shirt with the logo.
I’m looking forward to handing it off proper.
I’m looking forward to the heat.
I’m looking forward to spending some time with my brother.
S’all good.
Dagnabbit, that phrase can be overused but it makes sense sometimes.