The "Lil' Bro" Story
It was an ordinary day. We were getting ready to head to my niece Kelly and her husband Shawn’s house in Ephrata for a get-together. My brother Steve and my sister-in-law Kathy will also be there. Steve is my younger brother who carries our dad’s name, Paul, as his middle name. I was five years old and living on Queen Street when Steve was born. Our house was a three bedroom house with one bathroom. Mom and Dad had the bedroom at the front of the house and I 
had the bedroom at the rear of the house. When Steve joined us he was stuck with the tiny room in the middle which was just big enough for his bed. The room had a single window which was needed in the summer, since we had no air conditioning. I usually got to do what I wanted and Steve followed along. I raised guinea pigs when I was younger while Steve raised rabbits. Our Grandpap got both of us started with the raising animal thing by buying them for us at Roots’ Sale which is a framer’s market. Mom and Dad weren’t always happy about the acquisitions, but did support us in raising the animals. I do remember vacations along the Chesapeake at Crystal Beach with our cousins Judy and George. Judy was one year younger than me and George was one year younger than Steve, so we got to boss them around. My Mom’s sister, my Aunt Lois, came with us many summ
ers. She was a late addition to my Mom's household and was only a year older than me. The five of us always had a great time together. Steve never enjoyed going to Sunday School so one Sunday he snuck downstairs early in the morning and found my parent’s house keys. He then proceeded to lock himself in his tiny bedroom knowing that they couldn’t get in. Well, my Dad went to the basement and got his hammer and screwdriver and proceeded to remove the hinges just in time to get to Sunday School with Steve and me. I remember going to watch Steve pitch for the Schick midget-midget little league team and totally dominating the game. He did this most times he pitched. He was a lefty who was big for his age and could really throw the ball. He was a tremendous pitcher who excelled in high school, but didn’t get along well with the coach. Seems Coach K. would never let him start a game. He was saved for relief! Coach told him he would bring him in as twilight approached and the other team wouldn’t see his fastball. Yeah, right! One game he was needed as the third inning started and struck out all 15 (you are reading this correctly) batters he faced!! And the Coach wouldn’t let him start. You figure it out! He pitched for good old Manheim Township HS in the mid to late 6o’s and still holds records to this day for career and relief appearances as well as career saves. These records have stood for over 40 years. Quite an accomplishment. Of course, he has Coach K. to thank for using him only in relief. Steve also was a fantastic basketball player. My girlfriend Carol, who later became my wife, and I went to most of his games in his senior year. That’s because he only went out for basketball in his senior year. He still holds the school record for most points scored in a game when he scored 42 points against Penn Manor. That is when there were no three point baskets. His total would have been much higher if his long shots would have been worth three points instead of two. He also won a few games for the football team with his tremendous punting. He was a truly great high school athlete. As a student, he was like me, just OK. I remember the day he brought his report card home and Dad had to be taken to the doctor, since my Mom thought he was having a heart attack after seeing Steve’s report card. Steve earned a scholarship to play basketball at North-East Louisiana State, but after playing one year joined the Marines. I remember when he came home from basic training at Camp Lejune and grabbed me by the neck. He said, “I was taught how to kill in three seconds.” I responded, “You better hope the Viet Cong can’t do the same in t
wo seconds.” He later became the Marine Corp’s heavyweight overseas boxing champion. By now Steve was 6’ 6” and about 250 pounds. Anything to get out of other duties. As the years went by, he was my best man as was I his best man at our weddings. He got married to the love of his life, Kathy and has two great kids, Kelly and Matt. Now he is the proud Grandparent of Megan and Jack who we will see tonight at our get-together. I credit Steve with getting me my teaching position at MT. His basketball coach loved him and happened to be the head of the Industrial Arts Department. One well placed request by Steve got me the job, no questions asked. One of my brother’s best attributes is something I still share with him. He is a loyal Phillies Fan!! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - beach photo ID: (l-r) Aunt Lois, cousin Judy, cousin George, LDub (standing), Mom, Lil' Bro Steve. Below Steve and I compare our new jewelry additions.
had the bedroom at the rear of the house. When Steve joined us he was stuck with the tiny room in the middle which was just big enough for his bed. The room had a single window which was needed in the summer, since we had no air conditioning. I usually got to do what I wanted and Steve followed along. I raised guinea pigs when I was younger while Steve raised rabbits. Our Grandpap got both of us started with the raising animal thing by buying them for us at Roots’ Sale which is a framer’s market. Mom and Dad weren’t always happy about the acquisitions, but did support us in raising the animals. I do remember vacations along the Chesapeake at Crystal Beach with our cousins Judy and George. Judy was one year younger than me and George was one year younger than Steve, so we got to boss them around. My Mom’s sister, my Aunt Lois, came with us many summ
ers. She was a late addition to my Mom's household and was only a year older than me. The five of us always had a great time together. Steve never enjoyed going to Sunday School so one Sunday he snuck downstairs early in the morning and found my parent’s house keys. He then proceeded to lock himself in his tiny bedroom knowing that they couldn’t get in. Well, my Dad went to the basement and got his hammer and screwdriver and proceeded to remove the hinges just in time to get to Sunday School with Steve and me. I remember going to watch Steve pitch for the Schick midget-midget little league team and totally dominating the game. He did this most times he pitched. He was a lefty who was big for his age and could really throw the ball. He was a tremendous pitcher who excelled in high school, but didn’t get along well with the coach. Seems Coach K. would never let him start a game. He was saved for relief! Coach told him he would bring him in as twilight approached and the other team wouldn’t see his fastball. Yeah, right! One game he was needed as the third inning started and struck out all 15 (you are reading this correctly) batters he faced!! And the Coach wouldn’t let him start. You figure it out! He pitched for good old Manheim Township HS in the mid to late 6o’s and still holds records to this day for career and relief appearances as well as career saves. These records have stood for over 40 years. Quite an accomplishment. Of course, he has Coach K. to thank for using him only in relief. Steve also was a fantastic basketball player. My girlfriend Carol, who later became my wife, and I went to most of his games in his senior year. That’s because he only went out for basketball in his senior year. He still holds the school record for most points scored in a game when he scored 42 points against Penn Manor. That is when there were no three point baskets. His total would have been much higher if his long shots would have been worth three points instead of two. He also won a few games for the football team with his tremendous punting. He was a truly great high school athlete. As a student, he was like me, just OK. I remember the day he brought his report card home and Dad had to be taken to the doctor, since my Mom thought he was having a heart attack after seeing Steve’s report card. Steve earned a scholarship to play basketball at North-East Louisiana State, but after playing one year joined the Marines. I remember when he came home from basic training at Camp Lejune and grabbed me by the neck. He said, “I was taught how to kill in three seconds.” I responded, “You better hope the Viet Cong can’t do the same in t
wo seconds.” He later became the Marine Corp’s heavyweight overseas boxing champion. By now Steve was 6’ 6” and about 250 pounds. Anything to get out of other duties. As the years went by, he was my best man as was I his best man at our weddings. He got married to the love of his life, Kathy and has two great kids, Kelly and Matt. Now he is the proud Grandparent of Megan and Jack who we will see tonight at our get-together. I credit Steve with getting me my teaching position at MT. His basketball coach loved him and happened to be the head of the Industrial Arts Department. One well placed request by Steve got me the job, no questions asked. One of my brother’s best attributes is something I still share with him. He is a loyal Phillies Fan!! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - beach photo ID: (l-r) Aunt Lois, cousin Judy, cousin George, LDub (standing), Mom, Lil' Bro Steve. Below Steve and I compare our new jewelry additions.
No comments:
Post a Comment