Band of Brothers

I grew up with a sister and no brothers. I have three cousins that are all boys...brothers. I have always been a little jealous of them, and the relationship that they had with eachother. Brothers. I have been fortunate enough to have my own brothers though. Some older with deeper roots, and some newer. In any case it is alot like the popular tv series by HBO that my brother in law Brian intoduced me to "Band of Brothers."
My first brother is a guy named Matt. We met on a school bus on the way home from preschool, and have been friends ever since. Next was Jason who I actually met through Matt. When Matt moved Jason and I stayed friends. In Jr High I met a few other guys who later became part of my Band of Brothers. Phillip and Rick. I hung out with these guys alot through jr high and freshman year of highschool. Then there was Ben, Steve, and Ryan through highschool.
Ryan left the country for a few years, Ben and I moved to the bay area. I made two new brothers in the bay area. Scott and another guy named David. I moved to Yosemite and made more brothers. Napolean, Rob, Brian, Larry, John, Mark, Aaron, Drinker John (John B), and Doug. There are a few others from Yosemite, but I was never as close to them as I was to these guys.
After Yosemite I moved home Aaron was the one who I hung out with the most at this time.
Others would be my cousins: Paul, Troy, and Phillip. My brother in law Brian, and of late my newest brother Shane.
Over the years I have lost touch with some of these guys. Every now and again I run into one of them, or get some new from another. I now live about 2 hours north of Matt and we have been planning on getting together. It just always keeps falling through. Jason moved away during highschool and I haven't heard from him since then. Oddly enough he was a skater and in the Civil Air Patrol. He wanted to be in Pararescue. I wonder if he made it. Rick died of cancer a few years ago and is greatly missed. Phillip joined the army, went awol, and the last I heard he was the assistant manager at a Big 5 Sporting Good store. I almost forgot Jose but he was one of my brothers when I first moved out of my house and Pat a guy I used to work with. Ben is now a youth pastor at a church in the bay area. Steve still lives in Merced and got married. Ryan is finishing college or just finished college, and I think he is engaged. Jose is now also married. Pat is married with 2 kids and last time I talked to him he had a good paying job and was back in college part time. Scott got married. Moved to CO, joined the military and moved back to the bay. David was a fellow dance instructor. He left dancing and became a realistate agent, then starting dancing again part time. Bob left Yosemite and went back to school. Brian met a guy and they are planning on opening a bead and breakfast or something like that. Napolean is fast on his way to becoming one of the top natural body builders and still living in Yosemite. Doug is still working in Yosemite. Larry was working with a contracter. Mark and John were still living in the park and climbing. John got married. Drinker john was arrested and moved back east and was working at a toy store. Aaron is married. My brother in law Brian is busy being married to my sister and being a father to there two kids. Every now and then Beth lets us sneak out to go play. My cousins are living together again in Sac. I see Shane almost everyday at work. Kalin and Adam are also members of this list, we work and play also. And TJ too.
Anyway I realized that my cousins are lucky, and so am I. Even though I do not have the same parents I consider all of these fellows to be my brothers. This is my Band of Brothers.
Thanks guys for everything. Wherever you are and whatever you may be doing. Good luck to all of you, and I hope to hear from y'all soon.