My Brother Mike

He was the baby. He was the most skilled of all four brothers in the art (and science) of teasing to the point where he could still manage to escape painful retribution most of the time. My clearest memory of our early childhood together is when he had to wear glasses to correct a "lazy eye" problem. Sometimes, instead of the glasses, he wore a patch like a pirate, we all thought that was very cool! The down side was a tinted plastic screen we had to hang over the TV screen. The purpose was to force Mike to use his "lazy eye" because with his glasses on, if he closed one eye, half the screen would black out (it was polarized with the glasses)! Well, I remember looking though this smudged and scratched screen and it probably did more damage to my eyes than good to his, as I was constantly squinting and straining to see clearly. We would of course cheat when Mom and Dad were not around.

Left to right: Me, Don, John, and Mickey Mouse!

Mike was "Mickey", "Mickey Mouse", or sometimes just plain "Mouse". He was always a very active kid, especially the time he found the "M&Ms" in Mom's purse. They were actually diet pills, which translates now a days into "speed"! Well, the active Mouse became more active and talkative to the point that our Parents started questioning him because something was definitely wrong. That's how they found out about the diet pill "M&Ms". This was the episode where he earned the nickname "Motormouth".

Its funny how our lives go. It seems like yesterday that my brother Mike was still in high school breaking records in the backstroke for the Canoga High swim team, and playing Bee football (later varsity). He was not the scholastic type, but he did OK in school. Mouse was into socializing with friends, and enjoying life. After high school, he dutifully registered at the local Junior College. After buying his books, he came home that night and my Dad gave him "The Speech". "Son, don't go to college because you think you have to, it's your decision. I am fine with what ever you decide." Not! Well, my baby bro withdrew the next day and got serious about refining his surfing skills! Not sure that was what Dad had in mind!

Actually, I always admired that move by my little brother. He stepped out of the box. Perhaps he had that right. Live it while you can, and go for the gusto. Somewhere inside me, I have always regretted not taking more time while I was very young to be a little more "wild and crazy". Mike was a role model, but it was a little late for me.

He never seemed to worry about the future too much. He always had a job, and friends, and a roof over his head. Construction, bar boy, bartender, truck driver, migrant nuclear worker, concrete cutting entrepreneur, machinist; he has always been a hard working self reliant man.

Mike is very subtly flexing to show off his biceps!

Last week I visited Mike and his wonderful wife Teri (the best thing that ever happened to him). They live in League City Texas, near Houston. They live at "The Wharf" on Clear Lake in a beautiful townhouse right on the water, with the boat tied up 75 feet away from the back deck. Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are a boat ride away when ever they get the urge. We were talking on the back deck, and I realized that to live like this in California, you would have to be a millionaire! I was struck once again how successful Mike and Teri are. As we walked around "The Wharf" folks waved from their windows, "Hi Mike!, Hi Teri!" Then the introductions would start. Mike is so obviously loved and admired by his neighbors, it felt like I was walking around with a rock star, or very popular "Mayor" of the town. He has put a lot into his little community there, and I think folks know and appreciate it.

How did Mike and Teri arrive at their place "on the water?" They took a risk. Once again he decided to step outside the box, and move from California to Texas to startup a new store for Mike's employer, Tri-Tool of Sacramento. When I think of this; moving to a new state, doing something you've never done before, just trusting that it will all work out....I think that is the epitome of courage. It is also a great example of how mutual love and support in a marriage make life so sweet!

My brother Mike is a working man. His ethical standards are very high. His boss gets every penny's worth of his salary and then some. He works hard to put bread on the table, but also to provide the best pipe machining tools to accomplish work that is so critical to our way of life here in this country. He works, for his love of Teri, and their life together. He works for his neighbors, to improve the quality of their lives (and he does that for free). He is the garbage inspector, because the rules are there for a reason, to make it better for all concerned.

Brother Mike, livin' large!! Yeee Haw!

Sometimes I think people associate success with how many figures make up your annual earnings. Like my Dad always told me, money is a wonderful thing, because you can do wonderful things with it. But it is certainly not a measure of success, perhaps an indicator, but not a measure. Success is the difference you make on this earth for your fellow creatures. Does your life touch others in a positive way? Do your actions improve the lives of others? Will any body miss you and the things you did when you are gone from this life?

By every measure I can think of, my brother Mike is a very successful man! Sometimes I think he doesn't really grasp just what a role model he is. Maybe humility is his greatest quality.

My brother Mike is one of my heroes!

That's All!