Today is my dear brother Gordon's 78th Birthday....And here we are when we were little people.....Gordon is really a genius. Smart as a whip, verbal beyond words....musically talented----He can make a musical instrument out of anything---He was always my protector when we were children...me, being two years younger than him, he really looked out for me.....
Here we are at "sleep away camp"....I am four years old, he is almost six years old....How did we ever survive that horror....? Well, we did, and we are both still here.....!
This picture above with that wonderful two toned jacket really dates this to about 1941....Gordon on the verge of becoming a teenager....He has such a sensitive face, doesn't he? Life was not easy for Gordon as the only boy in a family of all girls, plus, a father who was competitive with him in ways that were subtle and confusing....
This is not exactly a "happy" group up above....particularly Gordon....Here below, a closer look at this boy who was slowly getting beaten down by both his parents.....
You can really see how unhappy dear Gorden is in this picture above...I don't look exactly ecstatic myself---having survived a horrendous illness just some months before this picture when I almost died, (now come back to haunt me)....But, I sure don't look as unhappy as Gordon does.
And here above, about five years later...on the verge of manhood...in truth, already a man, in many ways. And with Daddy & Mother separated, the only man left in the house....Gordon was always a ladies man....lots and lots of girlfriends. He has a way about him that my Hungarian friend Hanna says is very European...very charming, indeed.
Here he is above in the process of attempting to lure this good friend of mine Anne G. into a more romantic situation. He said to me..."I tried everything and she wasn't having any part of it!"....What he didn't know because it was a secret, she was already involved with a gentleman at that point....Below, a picture of Gordon and Helen.
Dear Helen---the mother of his three girls.....They divorced after 25 years of marriage. They are still good friends which is kind of wonderful, I think. And then we jump in time to this next picture below.....
Three year's ago...At Gordon's 75th Birthday. Our sister Gene, and our oldest sister Robin, who died on February 5th, 2005....None of us has really recovered from the loss of Robin. Almost every time we talk about her on the phone, Gordon's says how much he misses her, and we both cry a bit, certainly echoing that feeling and that sentiment. She was our oldest sister and this really special sweet person who gave unconditional love....something both Gordon and I needed....
Here above is Gordon and Michelle, his wife of 18 years now, sitting around my Dining Room table, last January....Gordon is a Family Therapist, and though supposedly retired, he still sees quite a few patients and is available by phone, if needed....He has worked with a lot of family's and helped many many people. What is so very gratifying for him is that so very many of these family's stay in touch with him and have such deep gratitude for the help they received from him and the changes that took place for them as individuals and as a family.....
You've come a long way baby....and I can still see that dear little sensitive boy in your almost 78 year olds eyes and face.....And by the way, he still has the ability to charm the ladies, big time....Happy Birthday, My Dear Brother.....I Love You With All My Heart.....
More To Come......
- had this to say:
This is a beautiful and dear tribute to your "big brother", Naomi. He looks very charming, I loved seeing pictures of him (and you!) through the years. It's amazing and wonderful how many family pictures you have kept!!
Wishing your brother Gordon the happiest of birthdays and many, many more!
Cheers!- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 1:29:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
What a lovely tribute.
Thanks for your comment on Is America Burning. When has being illegal stopped the so called government we now have?
I would never ask your age but from reading your blog, I'd guess that we remember many of the same things.
I'll be 70 my next birthday.
Best,
Ann- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 1:45:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Happy Birthday Gordon and may you have many more healthy happy years.
It's true you can still see the young boy in his face. I'm sad for him that he had a difficult childhood but I'm sure his sisters - at least one of them - would be loving and supportive.
Phillip Larkin the late British poet famously said"They f--- you up your Mum and Dad".
A lovely post and tribute to a beloved brother.- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 2:14:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
What a beautiful tribute and what great photos! I'm glad he grew up to do such good and needed work in spite of his own childhood. Too many people turn into their parents.
- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 3:42:00 AM PDT
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What a beautiful post for your brother! Does he read your blog? I bet he would be so honoured to see how you have portrayed him, it is so obvious how much you love, admire and respect him! I loved this post, and hope he has the most wonderful of birthdays!!
- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 4:22:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
Here's to a wonderful brother with a loving sister!
Happy Birthday!!!!xoox, Audrey- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 4:47:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
Happy B'day to your brother. A lovely story and wonderful photos. Your brother is lucky to have a sister who so obviously loves him.
Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier today. I've been on a hiatus of sorts, but plan to become more active with my blog again.- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 4:55:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
I hate I didn't get over here in time yesterday to send warm wishes to the birthday boy! So Happy Belated Birthday Gordon!
What a sweet post and your brother Gordon is so handsome still....I loved all the photographs. I am so sentimental when it comes to keeping family pictures, especially of siblings, that it means alot to see yours. I think you can tell more about a person by showing them with their family.
I am so sorry about your sister Robin and how much you guys still miss her. I cannot imagine that loss.- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 6:37:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
It is very apparent in the way you write about him how much you love him. A beautiful tribute. Happy birthday Gordon!
- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 6:58:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Thanks for the reply. I'd gone back after I left that comment, read your post again, and did the math.
I was fuzzy the first time through it.- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 7:34:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
What a wonderful tribute to your brother!
Happy Birthday Gordon!!
Here's to many more years of love, laughter and charming the ladies!!
It warms my heart when I read posts like this - not being able to talk to my own brother at all.
cq- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 7:39:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Naomi,
What a wonderful tribute to your dear brother.
He does look sad in the younger pictures- and such a handsome boy-and man he was/is! He seems like a very wonderful person!
Junie- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 7:59:00 AM PDT
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I love hearing about your family Naomi. I love all the pictures and stories you have. Gordon (which is also my hubby's name!)seems like a great guy. Think he would do a phone session for me?! LOL. Tell Gordon Happy Birthday from me!
- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 8:17:00 AM PDT
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That is so AWESOME that he took a difficult childhood and became a family therapist! Isn't that something? to try and make a difference.
He must be the charmer, I would say his wife is very pretty and a bit younger than him? No offense, I like the older men, too.- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 8:52:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
i think i see why he can still charm the ladies lol.. good looking man!
- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 10:16:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
What a lovely tribute to your brother! He certainly does not look like he is 78 - but, then you look really young still. I would bet that he can still charm the ladies. He has beautiful eyes!
Please wish your dear brother, Gordon, a very happy birthday from me...- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 12:11:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Your brother looks like a therapist...very open, content face that would easily draw folks out. Happy Birthday!
It must be amazing to have more than one sibling. I have one sister who is 9 years younger than I, and we are very close, but we were understandably in very different places growing up. Would have loved the closeness that you clearly feel; I can see it when you write about Robin. Obviously you filled in gaps for each other left by your parents.- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 1:12:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Such a heart-warming post. I feel like I know Gorden. Happy Birthday to a great man.
- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 1:36:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
What a lovely tribute to your darling brother. The photographs are wonderful. I especially love how you know your brother so well and emphasize with his difficulties growing up.
I am the oldest of four (girl, girl, boy, girl-- like your family) and spent a few years being a little jealous of my brother until I realized how hard it must be to have all of that pressure on him.
My brother is also a handsome charmer.- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 3:08:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Naomi, these photos and the stories behind them are beautiful. I hope your brother enjoys his day and realizes the gift he has in you. ;)
- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 4:37:00 PM PDT
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This was such a beautiful post about your brother and the love you have for him. thank you so much for sharing it with us.
- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 5:17:00 PM PDT
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Hi Naomi. Lovely pics...you both look alike when young. Your spirits are lively (through your eyes) from the latter pics. What a wonderful post!
- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 5:58:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Your brother is a very handsome fellow, and does not look his 78 years. Happy Birthday to Gordon, and may there be many more! This is the seafaring brother with the Little Boat?
And thank you, Naomi, for your kind words about our Wendy. Yes we will miss her, she was a faithful and loyal friend to our whole family.- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 6:48:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Happy 78th Birthday Gordon :D
What a wonderful birthday post and absolutely amazing photos you showcast Naomi.
Thank you for sharing :)- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 7:24:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
What a sweet post. Please count yourself lucky to still be close to your brother after all these years. And to have had great relationships with your sisters. I'm jealous. Your pictures are gorgeous as usual. Thanks for sharing them with us!
And Happy Birthday Gordon!- Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 11:49:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Michele sent me to spend some more time looking at Gordon through the ages - with his family. I hope he had a great birthday.
BTW Gordon in his later years looks a little like Hemingway at his best - before he started to deteriorate - very distinguished.- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 1:07:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Wishing your dear brother a very happy Birthday!
This is a fantastic tribute to someone who is obviously very dear to you. I can tell how close you are and the admiration you hold for him from what you have written. He seems like a wonderful person. the type that enhances the world by being here just like you do.- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 3:20:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Your relationship with your brother seems like a genuinely wonderful thing - as is this moving tribute!
- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 5:47:00 AM PDT
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GORDON! What a beautiful and lovely tribute to your dear brother, Naomi! Love to see all family's photos! Sure, your brother is very charming!
Thanks for your nice words on my wheat's photos. Yes, those landscape's photos are near my house in Enseada Azul about 30 minutes. And far away São Paulo city about three hours of road.
I just update the current post with a painting of Andrew Whyet. If you have the time, make me another visiting to see it!
Have a nice weekend, my dear!- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 7:15:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
What a beautiful tribute to your brother and to his life well led despite a childhood that could have made it otherwise. It's a good encouragement to others. Nice to see a family that are still loving and supportive of each other
- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 10:05:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
I'm the youngest and sole survivor of 4 siblings. We were two boys, and 2 girls with lives in a family very different from yours yet in the most important ways, we were the same. Gordon reminds me of my brothers who were 6 & 8 years my senior and always watched over my sister and me.
There are no photographs of our parents or us as children but in my memory they could not be any clearer or dearer. It always warms my heart to read about loving sister and brother relationships. Gordon's birthday blog is sweet and wonderful and so full of your love for him I know he can feel it no matter where he may be. Belated Happy Birtday dear Gordon from someone who remembers the caring of brothers like you.- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 11:34:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Michele sent me to say : Happy Birthday Gordon !!
What a lovely tribute...
Have a great weekend !- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 12:12:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Happy Birthday, Gordon! He's very attractive Naomi :-)
Hi, Michele sent me!- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 12:55:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
That first photo is so wonderful.
What great looking kids you were!
Just LOOK at how sweet faced you both are in that photo!!!!
It is sad that as time went by, you all had such family turmoil to deal with. I knew about your dad's part in the troubles you had, but I was unaware until this post that your mother had put pressure on Gordon to the point of causing him sadness.
Well, I suppose that all he went through went into making him a terrific therapist. He certainly was able to draw on his own life experience and help others deal with emotional pain.
He grew into a handsome man.
If he is still good friends with his ex-wife of 25 years marriage, it proves he is a goodhearted man who does not hold a grudge.
I hope he had a marvelous birthday!!
I'm sure you spoke to him by phone and wished him well.
I wish him good health and many more birthdays!- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 1:04:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
What a wonderful tribute to your brother and how great to be able to follow you and him and the rest of the family from the start so to speak.
Belated Happy, Happy Birthday to your brother, all the way from Norway!
So he had it the European way :-)
Wishing you a wonderful end to your week!- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 2:03:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
Beautiful photos and reminiscences! Happy Birthday, Gordon!
- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 3:54:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Very sweet post, Naomi. You can really hear the love you have for your brother.
Is that your sister Gene on the far left? She kinda resembles Helen Hayes a bit. :)
Enjoyed reading your tribute to your brother.
~S- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 5:05:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
I do hope your handsome brother had a wonderful birthday Naomi. He doesn't look his age to me! I loved all the pictures you shared. I can see how he could be quite charming, then and now!!
Such a lovely post dear Naomi!! Hope you are doing great and that sweet "Sweetie" of yours too!!!- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 7:19:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
That is a nice tribute to Gordon. Happy Birthday, Gordon....
- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 8:13:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
heartwarming and inspirational tribute -- enjoyed reading it.
this time michele sent me- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 10:09:00 PM PDT
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Happy belated birthday to Gordon, what a wonderful tribute your post was. He does still look like a charmer.
I just got home from the big 6 birthday bash , very glad it is over, I was up late and up early again today getting ready for it all lol.- Friday, September 21, 2007 at 10:52:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
Happy Birthday to Gordon! I am an only child, and proud of it, but if I had a brother, I'd want him to be just like "Gordon", who reads Popular Mechanics and has a Little Boat.
I hope the next time you remember sister Robin, you visualize her bustling down a lane in Pearly Gates Estates, perhaps with a charming basket made of those puffy cloudlets on her wing, singing and bringing happiness to all her neighbors.- Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 3:07:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Naomi - what a lovely tribute! Happy belated birthday to your your brother. :)
- Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 6:15:00 AM PDT
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This is such a warm, loving and wonderful tribute...and it's so obvious the love you both share. His face actually shows all the things you said about him....kind and sweet.
You are very lucky you have this relationship! I had 4, now 3 brothers and I am the only girl. there is no such relationship such as this...and oh how I wish there was. You are so very lucky, both of you. Happy Birthday to Gordon!
XOXO- Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 11:15:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
What a nice birthday greeting!
You haven't changed much, Naomi!
Happy birthday, Gordon!!!- Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 11:29:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Lovely and loving tribute to your brother. Before I even read what you wrote, I thought, how sad he looks. And how handsome.
Today, 9-22, is my husband's 79 birthday. September is a good month.- Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 3:29:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Wonderful read.
I hope I look so good at 78.- Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 8:03:00 PM PDT
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You are fortunate that you have a good relationship with your brother, and that he is intelligent and remembered how important his family is. Some brothers don't.
:)
Happy Birthday, Gordon.- Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 11:01:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
I can see the sensitivity too. I couldn't put my finger on it, but when I saw his picture with others around him smiling, it occurred to me he seems to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.
It was so different back then. I only know because my dad's parents were divorced too & he was caught in the middle. Oddly enough, his name was also Gordon. :)
Children's feelings weren't really considered, especially boys, they weren't supposed to have any!
He must be a good therapist. Only my current therapist, the best one I've ever had, has told me that I can call if I ever need to talk. Your brother obviously has a bond & values his patients.
Very nice, Naomi.- Sunday, September 23, 2007 at 12:50:00 AM PDT
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Wow. Am I the 50th person to comment on this post? What a great tribute to your brother. Does he know that you keep a blog??
He was a bit of a good sort, he still is, your brother. That first photo of you is so cute!!
I hope Gordon had a terrific 78th birthday. Boy, does he look good for his age or what??- Monday, September 24, 2007 at 4:17:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
Tears are streaming down my face. This is one of the most touching and loving posts I've read. Plus, your dear brother shares the same birthday w/ my daughter Sapphire!!
(I'm also a Sept. baby but not that date.)
That special conneciton you and Gordon share is evident. What a warm, giving, and fine looking bro you have! You're both so very lucky! Belated BD wishes to him!- Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 1:17:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
I'm very late wishing Gordon a Happy Birthday, but my wishes are sincere.
What a great collage of photos and commentary of Gordon over the years. How fortunate you are to have such a special brother.
And...I can see why he's still a ladies man. He aged quite nicely and is very handsome and distinguished.- Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 6:45:00 AM PDT
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