A Birthday Gift for My Brother!

August 31st. Today is my brother Victor's Birthday. As we get older, I have so many memories from our time growing up together as Brothers.

Vic, here is a gift of memories to you:

I remember the times before Paul was born when you and I would wake up early and go and watch TV show's on our little black and white TV before Mom and Dad woke up.

I remember when John and Saeed lived with us and how the four of us slept in one bedroom, two of us on a bunk and two of us in a trundle bed and how at night we would all talk about what we were going to be when we grew up.

I remember the time Brendan McGee smashed into Paul's big wheel and hurt him and how you went over to his house and beat him up.

I remember when we visited our Father's family in Iran and all of our adventures there together. And how sad we were when John and Saeed stayed behind and overnight we went from having four brothers to having two brothers.

I remember you riding your skateboard everywhere and all of the good moves you could do.

I remember Lucky, our family dog, and how he was your dog. Lucky was just like you, taking no guff from anyone and always getting into mischief. Lucky grooved in paths in our backyard in Virginia because he was always running around barking at other dogs and kids in the neighborhood. I remember how after a bath Lucky would run around the house and roll on the carpet like he was going crazy, trying to get dry. I remember Lucky's theme song, "Back Stabbers" by the O'Jays. Lucky was with us for over 15 years and he came with us from Virginia to our new home in Boulder. I remember the time Lucky bit the Mailman and how we got a nasty note from the Post Office. I remember the day I took him to the Boulder Humane Society because you loved Lucky so much and could not take him. I cried afterwards because I was so sad he was gone and I was sad for you since you lost your best friend, Lucky.

I remember how much you loved Dinosaurs. You knew all of them by name and were an expert on them by 5 years old.

I remember how someone signed my high school yearbook, "Your brother can fight!" You were good at standing up for yourself and didn't let anyone bother you.

I remember the years we spent together working side by side in the Applewood Pit Restaurant cooking pancakes, sausages, bacon, #1's Over Easy, Omelet's, Waffles, and making our lives together in our teen years. You were a great "Egg Man," the best I worked with when I was working the "Wheel." I remembered all of the music and songs we listened to on our boom box while working away in our restaurant.

I remember us fighting and arguing because you wore my favorite "Talking Heads" concert shirt without asking me and how mad I was at you. And today that shirt is long gone and I think back how silly it was for me to get so upset.

I remember all of the concerts we saw together over the years--our first and worst was Aerosmith at McNichols Arena, and they were awful, Steven Tyler was so drugged out he couldn't sing and it was terrible, The Eagles "Hotel California" Tour in Folsom Field which was amazing, The Rolling Stones "Miss You" on one of the Sunday shows in Folsom Field, The Police and The Specials in the Rainbow Music Hall, Cracker and an unknown group at the time, Counting Crows, at the Ogden and how you were talking with Adam Duritz before the show, no one knew him and he was just hanging out in the crowd. I remember seeing Neil Finn at the Boulder Theatre with you in 2003 and what a great show it was and the last concert we saw together in June, 2003 at Red Rocks, one month before Ria was born, Coldplay, and how it rained and rained on us and we had so much fun.

I remember going to watch you play in your many different bands over the years and how proud I was of you each time I saw you play because you are such a good musician.

I remember you playing a moving, acoustic version of "Across the Universe" at Paul and Vivienne's Wedding. You play the guitar so well and you have the gift of playing music which I never had.

It's been many years since we sat together and watched cartoons on our little, black and white TV and I wish you many more happy memories with myself, our entire family and all of your friends in our future. You are a great Uncle to Ria and Puja, make sure to make good memories with them so they can remember you when they grow older.

Happy Birthday Brother, you are always there for me and I am always there for you.