We Are Family

It seems appropriate that Siblings Day was on April 10, just two days from April 12, the first anniversary of our dad's death. What do these two day have in common? Not only are they both occasions that it is hard to find greeting cards for, but the death of my last parent (that sounds like I had several, but just the standard issue of two...the point is I'm now down to zero) makes my brother and sister more important to me than ever before. It's not a simple matter of being closer (although my brother and I have had the opportunity recently to drink together more which is the epitome of German closeness) but of realizing how unique and special our relationship is. I'm certainly not the first person to say this, but the bond of a shared childhood is irreplaceable. I think most families have their own micro-culture and language and no matter how weird or dysfunctional it might be, it's YOURS. 

My siblings Jenn and Charley at the Luedtke Homestead

While Jenn, Charley and I are all blessed with many other family members and friends, our little tribe of origin led by Colleen and Gordy is down to three. Even though we had rather different experiences growing up, especially since we are each five years apart, we still know and understand things about each other that no one else can. No one else can quite speak our language. Even at those times when we are totally perplexed by each other's memories and interpretations of our family history, ("Mom did what?" or "Where was I went that happened?" or "The True Detective magazines belonged to grandma?"), it's still the same history, just seen from different angles. And as a wise and lovely friend just said on Facebook, our trio is now the oldest generation (yikes, not ready for that in my early 40s) and the keeper of the family tales.

Famous Siblings

Oh, and the tales we could tell! Don't worry, while it has often been said (usually by us) that the progeny of Colleen and Gordy don't have filters, I do recognize that many of the tales about our dad are not appropriate to put into writing, at least not on the interwebs for potentially wide distribution. I'll try to take inspiration from a song from my youth ("Della and the Dealer" by Hoyt Axton) and emulate the cat. I won't write a mumbling word and will have a shot of rye. 

But I can share some tidbits of childhood knowledge that only my sister, brother and I might know:

• Plastic flies, when stuck on your sleeping father's head, go "diggum, diggum, diggum."
• The family patriarch enjoys cooking the most when using a cauldron, and the tomato-based stew type concoction just gets "better" as the week progresses and he throws more leftovers in it. 
• School bus drills are very, very, important. Do not be caught unawares and do NOT miss that bus. 
• The Jolly Troll in Eau Claire is the best restaurant ever, especially if you get over the barricade and pretend you're a troll. 
• Little sisters love to play waitress at Burger Chef and dispense ketchup and napkins. Little sisters will also threaten to sell family members to Burger Chef whenever they get annoyed. (I had no idea that Burger Chef became Hardees!)
• Little sisters eat so slowly that mom will have to order more food for you during family outings before little sister is finished. 
• It's really easy to piss off a little sister by telling her she has spent the day "bumming" with Grandma and Grandpa at Menard's. 
• It's a hard choice between using the outhouse and the gas-burning toilet at your aunt and uncle's. What poses the biggest danger: having some creature crawl up the outhouse hole or having the fire accidentally burn your butt?