Number Six

I am the oldest of eight children. To many in the world, that sounds like a really big family. However, growing up in the heart of Mormondom in Provo, Utah, my family seemed an average size to me. One thing that did set my family's size apart, though, was that all eight of us are boys. What are the odds?

That was a rhetorical question. Being a nerdy accountant-type, I figured out the answer a long time ago. If you really want to know the odds, go ask a statistician friend. If you don't have a statistician friend, be thankful.

Growing up, little brothers are a pain. They get into your stuff, hang around when you have your friends over. Just annoying. Can anyone with little brothers disagree - really? I think not. Yet now, as I am getting older, I am starting to appreciate all of my siblings, regardless of their quirks, neuroses, and other idiosyncrasies.

Perhaps another way to say that is I love them even though they all have habits or personality traits or pets that bug the crap out of me.

Today is the birthday of Number Six. (He's the one on the left.) He has moved away from Utah, for the time being, to attend law school. Law? There's one in every family. To make things worse, he seems to be interested in taxes. And people think I am boring as a CPA. He wants to be a tax attorney.

Wes (Number Six) was the first of the second group of boys. The first 5 of us were each born about a year apart. After that, my parents took a 5-year break (from having kids - I won't guess as to anything beyond that).

Then, Wes came along. How exciting!! Now we had a little brother we could ALL pick on, even Number Five. Without a doubt, he got teased mercilessly throughout his life. Probably more so than even Number Seven and Number Eight. Actually, it hasn't stopped yet, all these years later - including from Seven and Eight. And, because of the teasing he has endured all his life, he has developed a little bit of a complex. You know the one - all actions and comments are always meant to hurt or demean him. More than likely, if you have a large group of siblings, you have one or more in your family.

Yet, for all that, I am thankful I have Wes for a brother. He's been working really hard to become someone who can go and be independent and provide for his family today and in the future. He's striving to raise his family in righteousness. He presses on (despite his complex) and works hard. People who are patient and get to know him, and look past annoyances, or whatever, find him to be a good friend. Heck, Melissa (his wife, pictured above - on the right) seems to love him.

Don't ask me to tell him all that personally, though. My pride is too great for that. But, he can go ahead and read it here. That will have to suffice for now.

I love you Wes. Happy Birthday.