It’s always nice when friends come to visit me here in Lancaster, PA, especially when that friend is my Brother X. This time it was X-ceptional, as he brought along a new friend of his, Kathleen. As anyone who reads my stories knows, Brother X doesn’t like his name appearing in any of the “lies” that his two brothers write. Therefore, I only refer to him as Brother X. I’m not supposed to use his photograph in this blog, either, but I’ll take my chances and show a picture of him with Kathleen at Clipper Magazine Stadium that was taken the other night. If he says anything, I’ll just say that they got in the way of a picture I was trying to take of the jolly Santa Claus, who was sitting right behind them.
Readers might remember that Brother X went on vacation to Iceland back in January, because he wanted to see the Northern Lights.
Me, I spent my year in a cold place near the North Pole a long time ago, when I was stationed in Adak, Alaska. So, when I wanted to see spectacular Northern Lights, I didn’t even go outside. I just Googled it and got a great shot enhanced by an AI photo program.
I think I got the more awesome photo, but he had a bit more fun taking his photo the old-fashioned way. For one thing, Iceland is where he met Kathleen. There were 25 people from Long Island on the tour, and almost half were single. Kathleen told me that she flirted with my brother while they were in Iceland, but he didn’t pick up on it. They texted each other when they got home, though, and their relationship blossomed after they went to a ‘50’s Dance together.
Ooops, another accidentally-used picture of the brother who’s trying to remain anonymous. Sorry about that, Bro.
So, Kathleen and Brother X came to visit me, and I noticed the change in Brother X immediately. He was actually smiling. That’s something he hasn’t been doing a lot of since his wife passed away a couple years ago. Within minutes of their arrival, the three of us were chatting like old friends. It didn’t even take a few minutes for us to hit it off. They “had me at hello,” especially with the box of my favorite wine and the bottle of bourbon they brought. The three of us sat around the kitchen table laughing, joking, and telling stories for hours. They even let me rattle on about Lancaster’s most-famous U.S. President, James Buchanan. Most of my friends will stop me before I can even say the word, “Buchanan.”
Brother X had also purchased baseball tickets for that night’s game, so we headed out to the ballfield around 5:30. Kathleen doesn’t drink, and Brother X had stopped drinking hours before it was time to go to the ballgame, but I never let the presence of rookies slow me down. I drank all afternoon. So, when I saw Chester Cheetah handing out free samples at the ballpark, I jumped on a short line of little kids who were waiting to get a picture with him. I think that Chester might have gotten a contact high just from standing next to me, because he busted some moves later on when he won the dancing contest between him and the Barnstormer’s beloved mascot, Cylo.
The game itself was a laugher, with the Barnstormers scoring 13 runs in the first 4 innings, so I concentrated more on devouring hot dogs, pretzels, and beer than balls and strikes. Amazingly, Kathleen and Brother X didn’t have to get up even once to use the restroom. It must be a trick they learned in Iceland. Me, I wore out a path to the gent’s room. It was the best workout I’ve had all week.
Kathleen and X returned to Long Island on Sunday. I can’t wait until they come back for another visit, especially now that I know that they know my favorite wine.
Peace & Love, and all of the above,
Earl
earlthepearl137 