Casisms

My brother Cas turned 30 yesterday! I really can't believe it. I thought I'd be smart and remind him that in 10 short years he'll be 40, and as soon as I said it I knew what was coming.

"Yes, and in 4 short years, you'll be 40," he shot back. No matter what, I can't tease him about his age. Arghhhh!

So, growing up with Cas Webster was, if nothing else, never dull. Never. And I was a merciless big sister. I bossed him, ignored him, fought with him, shut the door on his face so many times my parents should have taken my door off the henges. I was horrible. (My horribleness is the very reason I am militant about my girls being kind to each other. I don't tolerate a lot of fussing and fighting, especially when it crosses the line into just plain ugliness.) And even though I was completely horrible to him, I always completely loved him. The best growing up memories I have include him.

On a funny note, Cas has what I call "casisms." They are sayings that he heard someone say or he completely made up and he will bust out with them randomly, or sometimes at awkward moments...it really doesn't matter when. Just sort of when the spirit moves him. Sort of like turrets. Except he has complete control. It's so Cas. There's no other way to describe it. I know a lot of his friends have probably noticed this about him, but I don't know if they've heard the full gammet of his casisms. Even as I type this I'm not sure if I'll remember all of them. I'm just going to list them...there's no way I can go into explaining them. But, no doubt anyone in my family will hear these sayings in our heads in Cas' voice...

"Deer Park!"

"Thank God for Fort Sam."

"Cot-ton. Snowy white cot-ton."

"My name is Johnnay." (this is a recent addition)

"Come 'n see me."

"Ain no thang. Ain no thang but a chicken wang."

"I won't neva neva tayill."

I could go on and on here...I'll just stop there. I'll close with one of my favorite all-time memories of my brother. When I went away to college, he was 14. He would write letters to me at college. I still have them. They were short, sweet and to the point. Bottom line: things were different around there without me. So, when I came home for my first visit, I drove in after my Thursday night class and didn't see him that evening - he was already in bed. But, the next morning, I heard him getting ready for school and I was ready for a long morning in the bed. As I snuggled down in my covers and tried to get back to sleep, I heard my door open just slightly. I peeked with one eye to see my brother in the door way, head cocked, just looking in as if to say, "You're really home!" I don't think I even waved at him...it was the sweetest thing to just see them there unaware I was looking at him too.

Happy birthday dear Cas....happy birthday to you.