Mama Hands

Two days ago, my little brother and sister came to stay with me and Frank for a night.  I guess I can't really say "little" anymore, because they both tower over me.  It had been a long overdue visit; we realized we had never hung out as adults without our mom around. The chain that links us.  I didn't grow up with these two siblings.  I saw them twice a year, during summer and winter break.  They are 8 and 10 years younger than me; 13 and 15 years younger than our brother Ian.  Ian and I helped watch over them when we'd visit.  They were little funny kids that we'd boss around and dress up.  We acted like a second set of parents.  I'm just now getting to know them as adults.  I finally don't feel the need to tell them what to do any more.  They are intelligent, talented, hilarious, sweet, loving people.

Genetics are a crazy thing.  I've never thought my sister Rheanna and I looked alike at all, but this time, we did.  I watched her graceful body slink into a chair.  When she'd stand, her long, slender hands hung in front of her like a beautiful, flimsy dinosaur.  As I watched her talk, move, laugh, and eat, I saw our mother.  I saw me.  Our little brother Bobby just turned 21 years old, and I still think he's 6.  He's 6'4 or so, but he's still a baby to me.  He has Ian's skinny body, and his face resembles Ian and me.

People always talk about my long fingers and boney hands.  Frank calls them "Mama Hands."  If you've seen the movie Mama, you know what he means.  Mama has long, feathery fingers, which she uses to suck the life out of people.  If I point my finger at Frank, he says, "get your Mama Hands out of here."  While we hung out with Rheanna and Bobby, we discovered that they too have Mama Hands.  We all get them from our mother, so I guess the term is even more appropriate.

Here's our Mama Hands together.

The age difference is not so noticeable any more, and it was great to spend time with my siblings, and start to understand each other.  To talk about our childhoods now that we're adults.  To bridge the gap.  I look forward to more of these get-togethers in the future.