A Milestone For Each Brother

I wanted to see my family. It felt like a year since I'd seen them last. It may not have been, but it felt like it. 

I always feel like its "right back to where you left," every time I'm home. Not just the landscape that is changing more slowly than the city I live in, but also because it feels like hugs open and close time warps between the conversations you get to have with loved ones. 

My father and brother picked us up from the train, after we had been traveling for 24 hrs, to arrive here, in a field in Elburn. 

I was glad to see them, since they both shared their birthday, which was the next day. They looked a year older and wiser alright, especially if wiser is short for wisecracker. 

We drove to their house, on a farm. Had tacos and bonded before the next day would shake us around and pass us through all our extended relatives arms and back again. 

Which it did, the day of their birthday(s) was a hectic busy blessing of a visit. Where every moment fills you with thoughts of preserving this, now. And this now, and this, and it all makes you smile. 

We saw lots of relatives and had lots of good food and played games and had a fire. My brother turned 16, father:47. 

We woke up the next day knowing we had to soon say goodbyes. They say parting is sweet sorrow, but it feels like these visits are short parties, followed by hurried 'morrows. Full of bittersweet goodbyes where time is borrowed. 

We drove to my mothers house, where we had a half day to prepare for my brothers wedding. Though a small affair, nerves bundle just the same. We unwound by a fire, the second one of the journey, and we ate and talked- for what else is precious enough to spend time doing?

The morning of the wedding started with the bride preparing for her big day, where her formal address changes forever, and her promise will be bound by ceremony. 

I spent the afternoon getting ready with the groom, and our mother. Since I was to stand in the ceremony and she was to read, we were a bit frantic. Her more then me. 

The small gathering of family watched as the young couple vowed their love till death, and kissed. Then we took a hundred formal photos.

Then, we went to a small local restaurant, and everyone enjoyed their food, we all celebrated together at one table, spread with three generations. I took lots of pictures, mentally and digitally. 

I then was also the escort for the after party, where drinks were had among my brother, and new sister's, friends. I say escort, because I drove them home. A task I am delighted to perform for my brother... Since it was his wedding night!

The next morning was a very early good bye, then drive to the train. My mother drove us, and I never feel like I'd had enough time with her, and then as she drove away, yelling goodbyes as she leaves I began to feel like I didn't get enough time with anyone. 

Then, we had to get on the train. While traveling you just want to get there- wherever there is going to be. But once you're back from being there, you miss it more, every time. It gets more important and somehow more hurried every time. I hope that soon, maybe next time, visiting will not have a countdown clock. Though it makes you appreciate things deeply, it's never enough.