J.P.

I wrote this earlier today, but felt that It would work so I copied and Paste.  Thanks.

                John.  J.P.  My little brother that is 6 inches taller than me is getting deployed.   He is a Mechanic for the Air Force that fixes big rigs, but he can’t fix my car!  How worthless!  ( I say this with extreme sarcasm.)    I have seen different brothers and a sister-in-law be deployed so it is nothing new, but John is somehow different.  I am close to all of my siblings, all 7 of them, but John is still a little kid at heart.  He is the only person who can wear lederhosen, (the funny short pants from Germany) and get away with it.  J.P., John Patrick and I have a bond that the other kids don’t have. We were home-schooled together.  We spent many countless hours of school time down in the creek looking for catfish to feed the dogs, canoeing and trying to get the culvert, hanging out at our neighbors who was known as ‘the pig lady’ because she sold all the 4-h pigs.  So many memories.  ( we did do school work also, I promise)  We are both stuck at ages that we forget that we are the age that we are.  We watch old movies together, and go on junk food binges like other adults drink beer.  We both want to be teachers and joke that we will marry for money because we are going to be poor.  (Well that is a joke amongst most of the Omodt’s  because 6 out of 8 kids want/are teachers)  John is special.  Not just to me, but to everybody.  It isn’t that I am worried about him coming back, or if he is going to change.  I hope that he does. I know he will come back.  I’m am just selfish and know that I can’t call him up and ask stupid questions, and have him make fun of me.   (I can also say this with most of my other siblings) I am proud of him and all of my family for what they do.  They may give the ultimate price, for me, for you, for everybody and they go with grace and style.  That is the way of the Omodt’s.  That is the way of J.P. Saying goodbye this morning with a high five and a huge smile.