The following is an unedited, stream-of-consciousness personal journal used to experiment with different subjects outside of assignments and to practice free-writing. It shouldn't (at all) be viewed as a portfolio of polished work.

To see examples of my professional writing, please visit ginabegin.contently.com. For photography, please visit eyeem.com/u/ginabegin or my Instagram channel @ginabegin.

Round One

My twin brother and I have always wrestled with each other.  I can’t remember many times when it was anything other than good-natured fun (though maybe my mom can).  It’d usually start out with me instigating the matter and him having to put down whatever his genius mind was working on to take care of the matter.

Soon after graduating from high school, I moved 2,500 miles away from home and thus, my brother.  The distance afforded few chances to challenge him to one of our duels.  I’ve tried engaging new friends in the tradition but quickly realized that many people don’t appreciate being tackled.  Awkward.

So I lived my life, its ups and downs, without my childhood pastime of I-come-in-peace aggressiveness.  I worked, grabbed an education, met exciting and not-so-exciting people, traveled, took up new challenges and lost a few monopoly games- all without my brother.  

This past week, as I mentioned my previous post, I drove to Maine to visit family.  Kyle, a cousin of mine who has a great affinity for the Muppets and a very quick (and dry) sense of humor, came home for the occasion.  The second evening, after dinner had been cleared and the usual family sit-around had commenced, Kyle tested his sarcastic limit on me and lost.  I attacked by grabbing his wrists and attempting to tie his arms into a bow.  Of course, being a guy with only about an ounce of passiveness in him, he’d have none of that.  Wrestling ensued, ending much later with both of us laughing so hard we had to be reminded to breathe.

My semi-adult mind had, prior to this little match, been occupied for a long time with very grown-up circumstances and little had been able to lessen the weight of them.  But after this mini-rumble that weight dissipated and didn’t return for the rest of the evening.  I realize now that many of the times my brother and I played was during a time when one or both of us were working on or dealing with something intense and a break was needed (in addition to the times when he just needed a little riling up).  Playing helped keep things in check.

Kids have more fun.  Revert for a while.

1 comment:

back arrow more arrow