The brother who taught me everything I know has 70 candles on his birthday cake
Sorry, can’t recall my first-ever meeting with Abraham Rudolf Steiner. Probably because of a focus on the larger question: “How did I get here?”
I do know it was Nov. 9, 1949. Thanks to my baby book, the roll of visitors on my first day in Bluffton includes the name “A.R.” Steiner.
He was 7; I had yet to experience my first-ever sundown.
A.R. claims he can’t remember our first meeting either, so, I don’t feel that bad.
The thing is, A. R. - my brother - turns 70 on Dec. 16. I mean, I can remember when my dad was that old, several of my uncles, plus lots of other guys…World War I vets, for example. Those guys were old. Really old. This is my brother, we’re talking about.
In my mind, he is the eternal high school student. He never grows old or grows up. He always wears his hair in a flattop. He wears white socks and blue jeans rolled up at his shoes. Now he claims to be 70. “Rudi, say it ain’t so.”
Since he never lied to me, I have to believe him.
For the curious, I wish to share some of the truths my brother taught me. I am eternally grateful to him for instructing me in the following:
• If someone hits you on your back when you are making a weird expression with your face, the expression will remain stuck in place the rest of your life. (He pointed out guys in Bluffton who this happened to.)
• When someone pokes a pencil lead in your arm it will travel through your arm and eventually comes out on the other side. (He showed me an example of pencil lead traveling up his arm.)
• If you pick your nose long enough your nostrils will become huge. (He pointed out guys in Bluffton who did this.)
• Immediately following a snowfall is the best time to do wheelies in the college parking lot - with your foot on the floor. (He demonstrated this technique to me in a 1956 Mercury not equipped with seat belts.)
• If you are able to acquire an M-80 and place it under a tin can after you light the fuse, the tin can will lift off the ground about 25 feet. (I watched this demonstration in our back yard several times.)
• If you put Bulldozer paint remover on your arm it will start to burn your arm fairly quickly. (No comment.)
• If you make a practice to hang around Bluffton town characters you will bring home lots of important information. (Case in point: I know the names of some people in Bluffton with missing body parts. I also know the locations of chips in Main Street buildings caused by John Dillinger’s gang.)
• If your work hard enough at it, you can make the sounds Spike Jones and Doodles Weaver made in their version of “Cocktail for Two.” (Google it on YouTube. You’ll realize how difficult this is to accomplish.)
• He informed me that it was Alfred E. Neuman (think “Mad” magazine) who first said: “It’s crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide.” He took the time to show me the issue that quoted Mr. Neuman. (It might have been number 15. I still don’t know its true meaning, but it is profound beyond words.)
Most viewers scanning these facts already accept them as truths, perhaps discovering them the hard way. I was fortunate to have an older brother who explained this stuff to me in well-thought-out, matter-of-fact lectures.
Now the guy is turning 70.
The weird part is… I’m still seven years behind him and have never caught up. I think I’ll call him and ask him to do the Doodles Weaver-Spike Jones routine one more time.
Stories Posted This Week
Saturday, November 23, 2024
- Pirate football downs Patriots in Region 22 final
- Owen D. Ziessler worked for Accubuilt
- Weekend Doctor: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- Agenda for Bluffton Council on November 25
- Super Cute Dresses ships 10,000 packages via Bluffton Post Office in 2024
- Volunteer opportunities at Bluffton Hospital
- Invitation to provide monthly display at Bluffton library
Friday, November 22, 2024
- Ticket and livestream info for Bluffton Pirates v. Patrick Henry football
- Service of thanks at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran
- Pirate girls basketball beats Hornets in McDonald’s opener
- 100+ voices in Bluffton's Handel's Messiah chorus
- Pirate Worcester named top district defender
- BVHS receives Level 7 achievement in ‘Most Wired’ survey
Thursday, November 21, 2024
- McDonald’s Holiday Tournament, Thursday, November 21
- 2024 Fall Festival in pictures: At the Schumacher Homestead
- Fairy I. Parkins was postmaster of Benton Ridge
- Council committee and residents discuss ADUs, best and worst case scenarios
- BPL hosts Open Crafts and Game Space, November 26
- Women in Business meet November 21
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
- Bluffton Beavers sports roundup, Nov. 13-19
- ODOT prepping for first snow of the season
- Mason named OBL 2024 Banker of the Year
- October 2024 land transfers in Bluffton school district
- November chamber meeting explores member news, Blaze plans and flag etiquette
- Bluffton EMS by the numbers: October 2024
- Children left unattended in running vehicles can lead to abductions
- Icon search function goes from 0 to 30
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
- Tickets and streaming information for Nov. 22 Pirate football playoff game
- Spirit Bus for November 22 football playoff in Findlay
- Tea Bag Exchange & Tasting at BPL, November 21
- Letter: University students learn about Fair Trade
- Join volunteer crew for 2024 Ream Display-Blaze of Lights setup
- Village of Bluffton asks for updated utility billing contact information