Son’s of Odin
February 10, 2008 – 9:22 am
“Sworn to avenge our fallen brothers to the end.”In the past it was more often that we lost our brothers to combat. But in our civilized world, where the carnage of clashing swords, shields and helmets has turned into something little more than a few deaths in an unpopular war, I fear we have lost brotherhood. Where once men swore to avenge their fallen friends, today the word friend denotes someone you let read your Myspace account. Who will die for me?
Don’t answer that question. I don’t want to know. Why? Because nobody reading this blog, other than perhapse my wife, knows me enough to love me that way. I have no brothers, save Bubba, and I am now shy to use the word friends because it is used so lightly these days. Bubba has two kids and a Bubbet to worry more for, so if his dumb ass avenged my death I would haunt him.
5 Responses to “Son’s of Odin”
A little inspirational quote I thought you would like.
“You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.”
Henry David Thoreau
Love you!
By freekee on Feb 13, 2008
Another one:
“In this world a man must either be an anvil or hammer.”
Henry W. Longfellow
By freekee on Feb 13, 2008
I find this to be an interesting blog that you have written. I have many aquantances, but very few friends. You asked “Who will die for me?” I have asked that same question many times. That is how I have chosen my friends. Would they die for me? For my child? Would I die for them? If I can answer yes to all three of those questions, then you are my friend, my brother, my sister. If I answer no to them then you are just a person I speak to that I can tolerate for more then 5 minutes at a time. Those that I call brother and sister are well deserving of the title. In my life I have discovered that just because you are of my blood, that does not make you my family. I find my family where I can get it, and I think because I chose who I consider family, I have a stronger bond with that so called family then most have with blood family. We, my friends and I, are married as family, and to me that is what it means to be truely friends. Blessings
By Briena on Feb 22, 2008
Briena said: “In my life I have discovered that just because you are of my blood, that does not make you my family.”
I was adopted. When recently my liver started to fail, my mother asked me what my blood type was. That is love. So as you can imagine, I am right there with you on the idea that blood does not matter (well, other than transplants and transfusions).
My mother has two son’s, both adopted as infants. Recently my mother spent roughly a week in the hospital and then a month in a nursing home for rehabilitation. The hospital was 10 minutes from my brother’s condominium. The nursing home was 5 minutes from his condominium. He did not visit either once. My family owns that condominium.
Recently, when someone I loved was dying a horrible death someone else I all but hate did something I would not have expected from her. When the person I loved was uncomfortable due to severe constipation and an impacted bowl (not sure on the terminology here), she put on a rubber glove and removed the obstruction, making my loved one much more comfortable for her final days of life.
Recently, my wife’s mother died and “friends” came from across our state as well as neighboring states. One of them used the funeral as an excuse to his / her spouse so s/he could spend time with his / her lover without he spouse’s knowledge.
Recently, someone I have never met, a person who should be absolutely nothing to me, has become my email confidant, my confessor, someone I share and discuss things so personal, I wouldn’t share with my own mother.
Until recently, the lines seemed so clear and simple. Today, not so much. But you are right, my best friend is my wife. Of course my daughter is giving her a run for her money and when my son starts talking, I imagine he will to.
I have observed that many people do not feel the same way. Do you think my observation is correct?
On a closing note: I am very glad to read you in my blog. I have enjoyed your posts elsewhere. Also, the liver is fine. Long story.
By A.J. Drew on Feb 22, 2008
I like your posts, they make me think, and I like that. When I can reply to something with ease it doesnt challange me in any way and that becomes boring.
I do agree with you. Sometimes the people that we expect to be there are the ones that let us down the most and then the ones we never expected are the ones that step in and help out. I always expected my mother to help me and when I needed it most she got jealous because I had become friends with a young girl who was her aquaintance. She was 26, I was 23, my mother was 49. So my mother was jealous and kicked me out when I had no place to go. I was in Colorado with no one, and it was that friend who helped me find a place to go with my two year old son. I would have never expected my mother to do that to me. So yes I do agree with you, and the people who feel differently are normally the ones who have never had a really ROUGH time in their lives who have had to depend on others for help. I keep my home open to all those who need help because thats the type of person that I am, all I ever ask is that they respect my home and my family. I guess we just have had a harder time then most so we view things more realisticly then others normally do. Blessings
By Briena on Feb 23, 2008