My big brother Cameron is one of my heroes.

I love him more than I can say.

Cameron has always been shrouded in mystery. I remember, at a very young age, longing to go where he went, do what he did, and drink in every word he said and copy every move he made. I have never asked him, but I wonder if he just wished I would stop bugging him.

Cameron has always been independent and rather private. I know he is vulnerable, because he is a human being – but he never seemed vulnerble to me. He seemed untouchable.

I actually owe my life to him, in fact make that I owe my life to him squared. Allow me to explain:

The first time Cam saved my life was when I got trapped in the dryer. This is a long story for another post, but, in brief, I was playing with my sibs,  the dryer had a glass door which made for the perfect space ship. I was the playing the astronaut – (it really is a dangerous line of work even when you are only PRETENDING to be one) and after we counted down the dryer door slammed shut and the cycle automatically began. There was no handle on the door, it was an old machine so there was no way for my younger sibs to get me out. They ran to tell our parents who just ignored them but Cam decided he would check out what was going on. Guess what he saw when he peered into that dryer — well it weren’t no dryer sheets, I can tell you that. It was his sister Liza – wearing an expression of total fear!!! He took the screw driver that was used as a handle, pried the door open and saved my young life.

The second time he saved me was when I was standing on the kitchen counter and reaching for something in a cupboard above the stove – that was ON – and my long dress caught on fire. I panicked, but Cam with his classic cool, took my burning dress and doused the flames – like it was NOTHING!

Cameron was born to be a man. I think he was never quite happy until he was a grown up man. And what a man he is! Honest, kind, sensitive, loving, good to the core, hard working, talented, funny, patient and downright unique!

Some of the many things that I most cherish about Cameron are:

His sense of humor. In a world where humor seems to be used as a weapon, Cameron uses humor as a bridge and as a connector. I really noticed this when I took a writing class with him a few years ago. You know how there is always a “funny guy”? Well, Cam was one of our funny guys. He always had the entire class laughing, sometimes crying we were laughing so hard. But he never mocked anyone. He was never cynical or cruel or trying to be cool – the laughter he created was out of love and kindness. When he was in class there was a feeling of celebration and complete JOY.

I also cherish the way he respects the priesthood of God. There are few people whom I know who pray like Cameron does. We pray so much in our faith there is a tendency to rattle off hollow prayers – but not Cameron, every time he prays I can feel him reaching out towards heaven. It always makes me want to be more courageous and more committed in my prayers when I hear him pray. He also gives powerful blessings. I have been blessed to receive some of the most beautiful blessings by his hand.

He is a wonderful father and husband. I especially love to watch him interacting with his son. He is so patient and so good. Cam and Nikki are impressive parents. Their son has a wonderful, bright and lively personality – that is enhanced by the beautiful training he has received. I just love that little guy. Nature and nurture are working out beautifully in their Harlem crib! I still remember how relaxed and chilled out he and his wife Nikki were right after John was born. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.

He is a very, very hard worker. He puts in those crazy New York hours just like my dad did. And he is always doing favors for friends and helping people out. I don’t know how he finds time to do all the good that he does. A major contributor to his ability to do so much is his wife Nikki. I have been so impressed with the way she simultaneously supports him and challenges him to reach higher. They are a great team.

He is wonderfully talented – in a myriad of ways – but I especially love his screen writing. His screen play was one of the very strongest in our class. People were blown away by it.

He is one FIT BLOKE! The guy is turning 34 and has NO FAT around his middle!!! He bikes and runs and eats farm fresh food thanks to his lovely wife Nikki. I really admire and wish I could better emulate his healthy lifestyle. He also has a great bum, just ask Ian! (Inside JOKE!!!)

Cameron can also “sleep it off” with the best of them. If he needed to the man could lie down on the stone floor of Grand Central station at rush hour and fall asleep. I don’t think he has ever come over to any house that Jan and I have lived in and not done this crazy thing he does where he just lays on the floor – kids crawling around, and pandemonium everwhere and just fallen asleep. It is a real gift, crazy, but ever so useful.

I love you so much, Cam! Right down to your tapered khakis!

Happy birthday!!

I don’t know how this happened but I missed my sister’s birthday. Well, I didn’t miss it exactly. I have a lovely gift for her here, made by Johnny Boden’s peeps, and I spoke to her the day after her birthday (as I was traveling across a large body of water on her actual birthday without a blanket or pillow) so those bases were covered. But to my horror I woke up the other morning to the realization that she did not get a birthday shout out  on Ye Olde Dawesome.

Forgive me, dear sister. You of all people – one of the truest followers of this little blog- should be highlighted here on dawesome.

Brynn was born the day after Christmas. When my mom carried her though the door she was wrapped up in a huge stocking. If someone were to ask me what the best Christmas present I ever received – without hesitation I would say, that my best present came the day after Christmas -in the form of my little stocking stuffer of a sister Brynnie – winny!

Brynn, simply put,  is one of my favorite people in the universe. She is talented, funny, bright, deep, good, beautiful, stylish, interesting, kind, and true. If you know her no doubt you’d be nodding your head. Perhaps an “amen” might have escaped your lips?

Brynn is the middle child which is to say she is SMACK DAB in the middle of a line up of NINE children. Every time I hear talk of “middle children” in general terms they always sound such a sad and pathetic lot. I have never understood this middle child phenomenon because of my beyond wonderful sister Brynn. When she was three years old she was such a hoot that she inspired a short documentary. STARING BRYNN & ALL ABOUT BRYNN. Just to give you a sampling of  the content of this film at one point Brynn has a glass of “bubbly” while taking a bubble bath and ends the film by lip synching to Aretha Franklin’s RESPECT. Oh, how I wish I could show it to you, but it is only on a VHS tape. Boo!

When Brynn was a little girl her favorite thing to wear was a filmy pink negligee with spaghetti straps. The straps had to be tied in knots so that she could be covered up on top and not be constantly tripping over her choice of wardrobe and yet, it still trailed on the ground. I swear she wore that thing ever day for a year. I will forever have this image of her in the pink nightie wearing a boa. That is my sister B R Y N N, my friends.

Brynn was a force to be reckoned with, I tell ya! Just ask her brother Chas. He can tell you A L L about it. Boy! Did she know her mind. Middle child my foot! If you’d asked her she was running the show! Or at the very least she was running Chas’ life. “Come on, honey” she would say to him as she dragged him with her on all of her adventures. Oh, the times that were had!

Brynn was a  scrapper. Once my mom was telling her off and called her by name, to which Brynn replied, “My name is not Brynn! My name is”Brynnie-Winny”!

That scrapper of a little girl, our dear feisty middle child, would be put to the test. All that gusto would be challenged. And for a brief time — that UGLIEST time of life known as MIDDLE SCHOOL — there were moments when we wondered if we’d lost her under a tidal wave of coolness.

Brynn was very popular. She had been running with the popular crowd since kindergarten. Which was okay until they started drinking, smoking, carrying on and shoplifting. Brynn’s friends became her whole world. She preferred them over our family — a great rift began to separate her from us and I believe from her truest and best self.

But by God’s grace she did the impossible. She realized what was happening, withdrew herself and her allegiances from the cool crowd, the result of which meant her facing their total and utter rejection. Meaning they completely STOPPED talking to her or even looking at her. This was in a small school with a small class of about 50 kids total. You couldn’t just drop your group of friends and then start afresh with another group. Your group of friends was your whole world and there was no jumping from one group to another. So from that point on she didn’t have any friends – and she took the road less traveled.  The lonely road that goodness sometimes demands of those of us who are brave enough to take it. By some fateful chance I was living at home when this all happened. And I watched as she endured this time of heart ache. I also watched as miracles happened after the trial of her faith. The first miracle was that she was accepted into another school – and then a year later when my parents could no longer afford the tuition – an ANONYMOUS patron paid for half of her tuition. It was like something out of a novel!

I have REALLY good news – all that wonderful, bubbly, feisty, personality lives on in the elegant and refined woman who now wears a “Mrs” in front of her name.

Brynn is one of the most delightful people you will ever have the chance to talk to. She listens with intense energy. She has strong feelings about things which she will share with loving kindness.

She is a fantastically talented writer. If you read this blog you will have seen her insightful and beautiful comments. I wish she had a blog filled with her writing that I could link to right HERE. But alas, I have not been able to convince her how much the world needs her voice. (If you know her writing and would like to join me in my efforts to persuade her to get her stuff into the public domain, let me know and I’ll send you a “Brynn was born to BLOG” pin!)

Brynn is FUNNY. As in laugh till you pee your pants funny. She was in that BYU comedy troupe called Divine Comedy and I think she was swell, if you must know.

She is also a terrific actress. She can play an old Irish lady or a ditzy blonde to perfection. She is goooood people, and when I say good I mean GOOD! She is the self-proclaimed “Julia Roberts” of BYU – meaning she doesn’t “audition” she is asked to star in things. She has even been someone’s MUSE. But don’t get me wrong, acting goddess she may be, but one of her favorite characters to perform is a girl with a lazy-eye. Multi-faceted and mysterious! That is my Brynn.

She is married to a wonderful fellow, Ben. Together they make the most fantastic team. When they show up I’ve noticed that people smile more, and enjoy life more. Might be their general gusto rubbing off on those around them? Personally I think they are just magic together!

Finally I want to tell you one of the reasons I most love and admire my sister. She has struggled with a chronic illness for years. It has taken a huge toll on her. It has changed her life – in both negative and positive ways. Throughout this ongoing struggle she has remained positive, and downright delightful. I am not saying there haven’t been moments of true despair, darkness and struggle – it has been a challenge in the truest sense of the word. But she has kept and continues to keep her chin up. For this reason and for so many many more I love her very much.

In my opinion she is TOP DRAWER!

Happy (*belated) Birthday to you, my Brynn!

*P.S. “If your elder sister has offended think on your patent leather Boden loafers and all is mended.” I HOPE!

we.  are.  hashed.

If we were potatoes we’d be hashed browns.

This is Millie on New Year’s Eve Day.

Guess how late we stayed up on New Year’s Eve?

We made it until 9:30, which was actually 3:00 according to our body clocks.

Happy New Year!