Christmas makes me very nostalgic. I have been missing my childhood lately. I can't think about my childhood though with Bobby coming to mind. He pretty much was my childhood.
Meet Bobby Banister:
We were born 9 days apart and have literally been friends since before we were born. He has always been more like a brother to me than a friend really. I can't think of a memory from my childhood that does not involve him in some capacity. He was my best friend, my partner in crime, and the angel on my right shoulder always reminding me of what was and what was not a good idea.
Here are my favorite memories with him:
1. Attempting to float to Disney World in a cardboard toy box via the creek in his backyard. Okay, we were like 6 years old---don't judge! Also, all creeks lead to rivers, which lead to oceans, yes? And all the oceans are in Florida? Duh. And Disney World is in Florida, so it must be close to an ocean. Yes, this was our thought process. We packed up the toy box with changes of clothes, snacks, and toys to keep us occupied on the journey. We even managed to get the box in the creek, but alas, our journey was short lived because cardboard does not take to water too well. Who knew?
2. Magic Shows. Bobby and I were the world's greatest magicians. Enough said. Seriously though, we were always asking for new magic sets for our shows. We had costumes, a flashing light (younger sibling quickly flipping the light switch on and off repeatedly), and of course theme music! Our theme music was "Mission Impossible" and who is surprised by that? My favorite trick consisted of me hiding in the closet while "magically" being turned into a teddy bear. It was a winner. It is no surprise that we both ended up studying an entertainment art in college! We have always been a bit theatrical.
3. I loved our family vacations together! We went to Disney World, Branson, Gulf Shores, and many other places together. These were always amazing vacations in my opinion because I had my best buddy with me. We could, and did, play 24/7.
4. One time the Banisters came up to our house in Fayetteville to spend the New Years Holidays with us. All of us kids slept in sleeping bags in our living room. At 3 am Bobby and I woke up, put shaving creme mustaches on Hank and Elizabeth, took a picture, wiped it off and then later used the pictures for blackmail purposes. Again, we were probably 11 at the time. This is what I meant when I said partner in crime....
5. My parents were trying to sell our house in the same town as Bobby and we were going to move 3 hours away (which is a lifetime away in youth). Bobby and I schemed of a million different ways to sabotage my house from selling. We finally had a winner: we took off all of the toilet seats from the toilets and hid them right before my parent's showed the house to prospective buyers. Genius! I am not quite sure how we even came up with that or carried it out! But the people who toured it that day did not buy the house. Mission Accomplished.
6. We used to recite the remake of The Parent Trap verbatim. We would take turns playing the different twins and reenact the sword fight scene using the cardboard rod from pant hangers. Oh man. That was a blast. We were 12 around this time. Ha ha ha.
7. Bobby and I had a phone conversation last spring a month or two before I got married. It was one of the best conversations he and I have ever had. It was about a 3 hour long conversation and we talked about everything. We reminisced, we talked about God, family, prayers, relationships, school, marriage, you name it! It was so nice. I miss talking to him like that. I think we are due for a catch up.
8. Like I said, he was constantly the angel on my shoulder telling me what was and was not a good idea...this particular day I told the "angel" to hush! Our parents were preparing for one of their annual massive joint garage sells and Bobby and I were entertaining ourselves by playing in a huge refrigerator box in the garage. We were playing house and I had a brilliant idea to cut holes in the box to make windows....using a butcher knife from the kitchen. No, we were not very well supervised apparently. Well, Bobby said he did not think that was a good idea, and I quickly replied with "please! I know what I am doing" (says the 8 year old holding a knife...). Of course, I nearly sliced my whole thumb off. The bone was sticking out, blood gushing everywhere, it was nasty! Thank goodness my fireman uncle was there to take me to the hospital and stitch me up. Should have listened to Bobby. Boy, those words are still hard to say! :)
9. Bobby sang two songs in my wedding in June. It was such a blessing for me to have him there. It truly was incomplete until he showed up the night before the wedding. I told him that as soon as he arrived I knew that everything was going to be okay and that I could get married now. It was like my childhood and my adulthood were unifying. Weird, I know. But my whole mood changed the second he walked through the door.
Bobby- (Bobtail)
I have so many memories with you. In many ways you are like a journal of my life. You can tell the stories I have lived and that is a very cool thing. You are so dear to me. You are my non-biological brother. I loved growing up with you. I would not change a thing about it. I love reminiscing about all the trouble we used to cause our parents! Your friendship has blessed my life in countless ways. Thank you for always being a friend to me. I love that now, even though we are grown up and don't get to float to Disney World as often as we like, I can still call you and catch up as if a day has not passed. My life would have been very bland without you. You are so kind, your heart is so big, and the Lord has blessed you with great talent! I can't wait to see where life takes you. I hope you always take me along with you! I love you my brother and you have sincerely blessed my life.
MB
This is the typical Banister/Shaw kid picture....We have pictures like this from all phases of life!
