Guest Post -- From Across the Street

It's nearing the end of another year and what a perfect time to guest post on the COAB's blog. Although ambushed into doing it, I must say that I am both very honoured and nervous. It's my first time.... blogging.

What a year it's been! Living in such proximity to the COAB has given me the priviledge of being witness to so many events in his life. From the funny ( we all remember Movember right?), to the sad, and even the daily musings that he always manages to transform into the memorable, I have had the priviledge of being a part of most of it. We, Father and Mother of Many, are always but a few steps away and love the bond that exists between both families. How many adult siblings, who don't live on a compound or share the same husband, can say that they see each other every day? Not too many! What a gift it is.

From across the street, I have been witness to many events throughout the past year. I have seen my nephew transform into a chubby toddler. He toddles after his sisters and is beginning to recognize me~ no better feeling in the world than to be the recipient of his slobbery kisses. The sisters both hold pieces of my heart. The Eldest was my first niece. She made me dream of princesses and rethink how to do braids. I wanted a daughter just like her. The daughter formely known as the latest addition, is the child who always cuddles with me. She makes everything all right. Who knew a child could make an adult feel that way ? I can't wait for my latest to beg to go and play with the sisters.

From across the street, I have seen my brother and Hot Wife transform into athletes. They inspired Father of Many and myself to take on the quest of fitness. They were the ones who encouraged us to become better version of ourselves. Who knew that one year later, the four of us would be discussing the next round, the foods that we would miss the most, the healthy foods that we craved the most and when we would be getting back on the wagon. It been quite the journey.

From across the street, I have seen the COAB at his best. He is this amazing father who adores each second spent with his kids (well most of them anyway). He's the father who spends the time showing the sisters how to ride bikes, runs after bubbles and let's his kids know every single day that they are loved.

From across the street, I have been the big sister. Every night, I peek over to make sure that everything is peaceful at the COAB house. I am still the sister who feels the need to keep an eye out for her brother. I am still the sister who would run through fields to unhook her brother from the top of a fence. I am still the sister who would go and find the Matriarch to fetch her brother who is stuck in the mud pit. I am still the sister who beams with pride at his every accomplishment. I am still the sister who gets so angry with her brother but who knows that it will blow over and that the peace will return. I am the sister who loves every second of living across the street.

And so as this year ends, I would like to wish the COAB family a happy and healthy 2011. All the best for this new year. I look forward to witnessing so many more event from across the street.

I love you.

Mother of Many

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Editor's Note: The urge to write tonight left me, appropriately enough, just as the Mother of Many happened to cross the room in my vicinity. Yes, I ambushed my sister, The Mother of Many, into writing COAB's final post of 2010.

By accident and on purpose all at once.

The year's last five months have been up and down for this fair blogger. And to look back on my last post of 2-oh-9 somehow amplified the difficulty of writing the last post of 2-oh-10.

So I copped out and left it to someone else, who quite frankly proved herself overwhelmingly capable of helming this page in my stead.

The truth is that there are times when I feel as though I am completely, wholeheartedly, all here. And other times when I feel completely, wholeheartedly, displaced from where I probably should be.

Not in the physical sense. It's just plain bigger than that.

It has been a rough and tumble time, at times, for the guy at the helm of this page. Tonight I am melcanch0lic for where I was a year ago. But also hopeful that the dawn of a new year will yield for me the just rewards that new beginnings always should bring.

I have many wishes for myself, my family, in 2011, none of which necessarily need to find thselves in writing here on this page.

Those will be for me, to hope for, and in some cases to deliver on, as we progress from Day One to Day 365 a year from now.

In the meantime, I leave you, dear readers, dear riends of COAB, with a heartfelt thank you for your patronage of this page.

And to the Mother of Many, a heartfelt thank you for gracing this page with your presence. You are now officially the second best blogger in the family!

Happy New Year to all. May 2011 bring you nothing but the best.

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