Favorite Toy

People often ask what was your favorite toy growing up, and I rarely answer with the truth. I don’t think people will get it, it will turn awkward when I try to explain. But here, in the privacy of my blog, I will admit, Ethan was my favorite toy. Now I know many people with siblings will laugh at this. For me, it's true. He was always entertaining. Looking back, Ethan may not have always appreciated my feelings. He may have known that I would become a thorn in his side, which would explain why he ran me over with his big wheel when I was brought home from the hospital. “Hi Baby Sister” Bump, Bump. It was the first of many vehicle accidents that were not my fault.
Family and friends will say we became close cause our parents divorced, but in reality we lost each other a few years after they divorced, just two trauma victims living in the same house. It was our younger years that cemented the relationship together allowing us to become friends when we got older. The middle years were a little rough.
When we were young our best friends were cousins and lived next door to each other. The four of us were always together. Getting into mischief. Be it playing under the porch (where Quinn gave me my first kiss) or running around in the back forty. I enjoyed getting him in trouble, but then always felt bad when he got sent to his room. Or maybe I just got lonely. I would then sit outside his bedroom door and sing “Ethan… Ethan… Ethan come out and play” Eventually he would sit in his bedroom and me outside the door and we would play. I remember talking to him thru the bedroom walls at the house in Gillette, we would keep going till Dad made it to the top of the stairs, versus just yelling at us from the landing. There was a day when Quinn and Ethan convinced me to ride my bike down the railroad tracks. I don’t know that I had ever been that scared, but no way was I going to let the two boys know that. Of course, it was evident when crying I refused to cross the train trestle. In my defense, the planks were farther apart then my feet. We rode for hours, I knew we were lost. Yet Ethan was positive he knew the way home. Finally we found the road. At the top of the big hill leading into town. Riding down was like flying, didn’t even have to touch the pedals of my bike, just sailed like the wind. Worth every moment of terror.
We use to jam out to Def Leppord and Huey Lewis and the News. Every day was an adventure. Be it playing Monopoly with Aunt Crystal for hours (OK, fine, DAYS) on end, or Duck Hunt on Nintendo at the Treptow’s. Riding our bikes to the beach or having grilled cheese sandwiches at G’ma V’s. All of my best childhood memories have Ethan in them.
Dad use to take us on camping trips. Once to Canada, where the only things I remember from the trip is the McDonald cookie package was written in French, we each got to pick out a toy (I chose My Little Pony, Ethan got a Transformer that I couldn’t play with) and we each got these little teddy bears with t-shirts that have the Canadian flag on them. We played with those teddy bears all the way back home. Road trips with Mom, singing to the oldies station. Our first concert, Poison and Warrant. Climbing rocks at state parks, family game nights. Ethan taking a HUGE drink of Ed’s drink, thinking it was his Kool-aid. It was not, as he spit it promptly out all over the table. Watching ‘CHiPS’ on TBS. Sunday mornings with classical music and donuts.

I also remember him being with me the first time I stayed out all night. Going camping with his friends, who will always know me as ‘Ethan’s little sister,’ which lead to learning that the forest rangers will leave an abundance of orange notes telling you that you are a bear hazard. Trying to find his place in Madison, and being horribly lost. Drinking in Madison. Sleepover’s at the Treptow’s. Playing in G’ma Fern’s hayloft.
Sure I may have irritated him to no end, it’s genetically programmed into all younger sisters. When I flip thru the mental images of my life, Ethan still comes up as my favorite toy, with a side of safety blanket. Yet how do you explain all that to someone who asks a simple question, so I usually go with My Little Pony or Strawberry Shortcake, all little girls loved them. It is SO much easier to explain.