Brothers and Sisters

The 20s are all about family. College is where your understanding of what family means changes. You have the chance to choose who you let in your life. You have a say in who you are connected to. You decide who gets to know all the parts of you. Chosen family is oh so very important, but the family that you're part of by nature of birth can often still have this uncanny impact on you. No matter how hard you try, you will always forever be linked to your brothers and sisters.

Brothers and sisters. People who share my DNA, but what more? We're inherently similar but fundamentally different at the same time. People who look like me, who have shared many akin experiences, and subscribe to the same set of beliefs that I do. Cain and Abel, Moses and Aaron, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph and his brothers - Christian Biblical siblings (my inner religion major is having a field day) all of who's destinies were linked. I have always known that my relationship with my siblings was rare. Too many times do I hear people saying that they either have no relationship with a sibling or that they hate them. Sure we used to fight, a lot (like Mortal Kombat style) but nowadays we barely disagree on anything. We have this five way iMessage group text that we used to stay connected and it's constantly blowing up with announcements, vines, emojies, and pictures. I love it and them. I've said it before and will say it again. Siblings have the potential to be some of your closest friends and those you can confide in. Who better to understand the enigma of you than someone who has seen how you've changed over the years. Siblings are not like other people, you can mess with them, mistreat them, and mess around because no matter what you're connected. My siblings are some of the best gifts this life has given me. I wouldn't be who I am without them, and would not nor could not go on without them. I am forever grateful and so very thankful for their existence in my life. Brothers and sisters, cannot live with them but even more so, wouldn't want to live without them. 

There's something special about being with your family. Maybe it's the sense of security or the fact that you never have to explain yourself because they not only know your backstory but were actually part of it. Whatever it is, it's thoroughly refreshing. College is a place where you can be absolutely anyone you want because all people know about you is what you tell them. Family gets to know you inside and out. I spent my Saturday morning doing homework before heading to the men's rugby game with my friend Sam. The game was hype as always, and they clenched another win. It was back to the books for a while and evening fell before my brother, Eugene, came to visit me. Honestly, I couldn't believe he was actually there until I embraced him. No one from my family has ever seen where I go to school or been here - I got my inadvertent wish to create my own world (definitely have regretted it more than once) for college. We made our way downtown and out to the waterfront. The sky was thick with a misty grayish fog and the sun was hidden was rain pelted us from above. We dined and caught up at Sherpa Kitchen, a Himalayan cuisine restaurant. Laughter, gut-clenching, air-gasping, knee-slapping laughter erupted from the both of us. I had missed him so much. The last time I had seen him was in March over spring break. We had both aged a bit and seemed so different but the same. 

We went to get miniature cupcakes and cake pops before talking about relationship stuff. I never had actually talked to my siblings about romance, finding love, or dating before. I guess it was just something we had never thought to do but talking to him was really helpful and made me feel less alone in my lack of romantic involvements. We went to see Gone Girl at a local cinema (check the full review below) before heading home to just talk. We talked, and talked, and then talked some. Everything was just easy again. I wasn't Joseph, Joey, Joe, Joteng, or any of the other people I pretend to be while at school but BJ - the me that my family knows, the real me (naively optimistic, fiercely passionate, and perpetually clumsy). 2:30AM rolled around and we decided to call it a night. He crashed on the couch, his favorite thing to do and I retreated to my bed. Morning came and after a quick hug and goodbye, he was gone - almost as if he hadn't been there. I turned my phone back on to a barrage of texts, emails, and other notifications. I had forgotten what it is was like to just be engaged, locked in, and fully present with people. With him, and the rest of them, that's a welcome commitment. Getting to see one of my brothers definitely was a highlight of this semester. Brothers and sisters, one and all.


Review of Gone Girl
This film was truly a psychological thriller. Twists, turns, and pivotal plot developments that leave viewers teetering on edge of this rollercoaster ride through the entirety of the film. The settings of the film vary greatly with clean pristine sprawling suburbia to dilapidated hoarding nightmares and run down middle-of-nowhere motels each adding a distinct feel to the movie. The cinematography was not inventive by any means but gave much needed perspective and challenged viewers to question not only what they saw but also their beliefs on the nature of people. The suspense was amazing and there were some truly astonishing moments. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike along with the rest of the seemingly haphazardly selected cast do a phenomenal job. Everyone in the film works, delivers, and brings complicated life to their characters. The movie lingered with me for a few days after watching and it was all I could think about; that definitely says something. I would give it 4.5/5 stars - definitely a must see. Be warned of its graphic nature, vulgar language, disturbing violence, and nudity.

My blog post question for the day is ... what was the last movie you saw you in theatres? Well I just watched Catching Fire last night so I'm not answering this question.

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