Brothers and Sister-in-laws

My brothers and I grew close after the deaths of our parents. We had to. I know some families are affected more negatively by death, but I needed them. 

Joe and Jeff used to be cute.  I don't know what happened. 

When I we were younger I was the bratty kid sister who was a total Daddy’s girl. I thought my brothers were mean people who like to torment me. They can still torment me, but I appreciate them more.

We go on vacations together, and mostly we go watch the Miami Redhawks on the road. We’ve watched the Redhawks play Ohio State, Michigan, Vanderbilt and Boise State. The trip to Boise was called “Crippled Jill’s Big Crippled West Coast Birthday Bash.” It was right after I was diagnosed with MS and he was sweet enough to plan this trip for me. We had a blast that trip! Jeff also helped me move out to Oregon from Ohio. He’s not so bad even though he calls me a Crippled Hippie. He was there for me when I was diagnosed with MS, visiting me in the hospital and bringing me Red Roasted Pepper Hummus. I’m hoping that he’ll be able to come to Seattle when the Bengals play the Seahawks. I miss him. He doesn’t read this thing, so please don’t tell him I said that. ;-)

Jeff and I at the Ghost Bar in Vegas.

I went to visit Joe all by myself once. I drove the 10 hours to Peshtigo, WI the weekend before Thanksgiving. I really got a chance to talk to Joe. He’s not so intimidating when he doesn’t threaten to pull Hulk Hogan wrestling moves on me. I continued to visit him the weekend before Thanksgiving and Jeff and Julie joined me. When he moved to West Virginia, we continued the tradition as well as added a Fourth of July visit.

My awesome brothers found equally awesome ladies. I wish they could have known my parents. Megan started dating Joe pretty soon after our mom passed away. I can’t seem to remember when Jeff and Michele started dating. I want to say it was around when Joe and Megan got married. Megan and Michele have been a part of the Wells clan for awhile now. I told them they could run anytime they wanted, but they stuck around for some reason.

Joe and his Best Man Jeff.

Joe and Megan got married in January 2008 in Vegas. It was a great time. Megan knows Joe isn’t the ceremony type, so a fun weekend in Vegas was perfect. They didn’t get married by Elvis though, so that was a disappointment. It was a beautiful wedding by the Flamingo pool. At the last minute, Megan’s maid of honor couldn’t make the wedding, so I was promoted from bridesmaid to Maid of Honor. Jeff was the best man and thus my escort. It was kind of cute. When Joe walked down the aisle he placed roses on two seats in the front row where mom and dad would have sat. It was a beautiful gesture. The officiant recognized those who could not make it, and mentioned our parents. I couldn’t help but cry. Because Megan is such a wonderful person, she held my hand. I really am lucky to have her as a sister.

Megan and I on her wedding day.

Jeff married Michele this past May at Miami University in Oxford. Michele went to Bowling Green, but knew Jeff was the ultimate Redhawks fan so a wedding at Miami was a great choice. It was a beautiful ceremony that even included Logan, Michele’s son. Jeff loves Logan very much and he is Jeff’s son since he was there for most of Logan’s young life. I am so happy to have another sister and a little nephew in our family. Jeff wants to start having more children right away and can not wait until I get a call that Michele is pregnant. Jeff is fairly sure that it’ll be a girl since females outnumber males in our extended family.

Michele and Jeff at Anne Amie Vineyards in 2009.

My brothers are pretty awesome guys. I would have been so lost if I didn’t have them to support me. I know we will grow closer even if I am thousands of miles away from them. As soon as I get a new niece or nephew, I’ll be on my way out east to see the little bugger and to pinch cheeks. Yes, I’m the crazy aunt with tons of cats who pinches cheeks. Logan doesn’t seem to care