The Puerto Rican in the family

Wow!  What a wild and crazy weekend.  No, I'm not referring to General Conference.  I didn't watch any of it because I had other things going on.  Now, before you think I'm going straight to Hell, I was busy with meeting my brother Jeff for the first time.  I'd say that trumps watching GC any day.

My parents were scheduled to arrive Friday morning, but mom called me late Thursday afternoon to say that they just couldn't wait until then, so they were driving straight to my place that night.  (What? They didn't want to stop and spend the night in Burley at my Grandma Doman's?)  They arrived at almost 10:00 that night full of excitement and anticipation for the next day's activities.  I don't think any of us got much sleep that night.  I didn't get much all weekend or last week for that matter.

Friday finally arrived.  

After a doctor's appointment, we met Michelle and her mom for lunch at Five Guys Burgers and Fries.  While we were there, Jeff kept trying to call me, but I never heard my phone.  It's ridiculously loud in there.  (Later, Jeff told me that is why phones have a feature called vibrate on them.  Smart-aleck.)  He wanted to know where we were eating so he could join us. We had already finished eating and were back at my place.  We called him back and he told mom that he couldn't wait until later, that he wanted us to come to his work.  I got the directions from him and off we went.

We arrived and asked for him.  We were sent to the third floor where we were told he'd meet us.  As we're walking down the hall, out he came and  just stood there with the biggest grin on his face.  My mom was holding back, trying not to run at him full-force.  She had a huge grin on her face, too.  Mom finally made it to him and he swept her up into a long awaited for hug.

After much hugging and grinning, he turned to me and grabbed me into a big old bear hug.  It was totally surreal and unbelievable and amazing all at the same time.  I've know about him since I was 19, but to finally meet him - indescribable.

This is Jeff and mom.

Mom and Jeff sat down on a bench and started talking.  Every now and then, I would look over to see the two of them practically nose to nose wearing huge silly grins and then one of them would just grab the other in a hug and laugh.  It was the cutest thing ever.  Lots of hugging and touching and laughing.  It was totally great.

After a l-o-n-g lunch hour or three, we left Jeff to finish up his shift at work.  He and his wife, Laura, came to the house later and the visiting continued.  Saturday, Jeff brought his family to my place and we all went to dinner.  Back at my place, we were able to chat with Travis, Amy and Gabriel for a few minutes over iChat before our cameras froze, but at least they got to meet, if only briefly.  Technology rocks!  

All in all, it was a pretty freakin' amazing weekend, even if I now have another over-protective brother who also happens to think he's Puerto Rican.  (love ya, Rico....I mean Jeff.)