When The Green-Eyed Monster Showed Up To Big Blue

My son joined me today in the land of tap beer, bar burgers and plasma TV’s in an effort to catch a glimpse of his former lacrosse clinic buddy and one of the “Prides of East Meadow,” Rich Ohrnberger, on the New England Patriots sidelines.  

I again found myself curiously drawn in to the conversations around us, trying to avoid this is as useless as a T-Rex trying to do pushups.

We are here to get an early start and relax a bit, before we start rooting for the Giants to clobber the San Francisco 49ers. Many local residents have known me for years and know that I am a kind hearted, friendly, fairly intelligent extrovert. Some people know that I write a blog for the Patch about my views, thoughts and experiences and that excites them.

Listen, I’m a blogger. I’m not an author, reporter or columnist…not that there is anything against bloggers. Me, I’m one step up from a texter and two steps up from a Twitterer. Nevertheless, some people find this fascinating.

I seem to have accumulated a great number of friends in East Meadow. Sometimes, some of these people have a bit too much alcohol and choose to share things with me that makes my eyes roll back in my head so far that I can see my own brain cells that are full of crazy.

I never judge them. I am understanding, supportive and empathetic. Above all, I am discreet. If tortured, all I’ll divulge is “Name, Bank and Social Security Number!”

Tonight, during the third quarter break, in addition to buying a round for our group at the north end of the bar, I am engaged in a conversation with this gentleman who I know from my involvement in youth sports. Currently, my son and I are listening to Rob is ranting about how Ken (the names have been changed for discretionary purposes) gave his 17-year-old niece, the daughter of their sister in New Jersey, his 2009 Honda Pilot SUV.

I have known Ken and Rob a while since my E.M.P.A.C. (East Meadow Parents of Athletes Committee) days. As it happens, Ken is missing four toes on his right foot from a work accident and it makes it tough to drive. This is the reason he seems to switch vehicles every 2-3 years. Remember, I listen and don’t judge.

Rob is almost always ranting about his younger brother almost every time we meet. This time he has both me and my son's attention. I am not sure if he is insanely jealous of his brother or just “lack toes intolerant!”

I think that he would be proud that is brother is successful enough that he can afford to buy cars and phones and other stuff like I change ball caps. My wife is very proud of her stepbrother’s accomplishments. I have a co-worker with seven siblings and she raves about each daily.  

I know that sometimes a sibling can do some things that push their relatives to the brink of insanity and extreme frustration. However, this constant sniping and moaning, instead of brotherly love, is hard to fathom.

Let’s say Rob is arrested for drunk driving tonight. Don’t worry…his friend Lou is really the one driving. However, let’s just say Rob is. Who is the first person he will call to bail him out? Easy answer here equals Ken! Because Ken is family, Ken will come to the rescue, Ken will stand shoulder to shoulder and Ken will understand. So why not be supportive instead of critical?  It seems to be beyond my comprehension, when it comes to this.

So I just smile, offer words of understanding, nod my head like an Eli Manning bobblehead and move a bit closer to my son, who quietly nods his head at me and smiles, because he does get the point of this blog as it is happening.

Hey, maybe after the game, I’ll tell Rob about the time my sister saved my Nana’s life.