Wednesday, April 11, 2007

My brother, the man

Had a little conversation with my brother, Daniel, the other day. We were chatting along, calling each other names (as per our usual) and he mentioned the new car he just bought.

Oh. No. He. Didn't.

(He did)

He has joined the ranks of families everywhere who find their kids' car seats no longer fit in the backseat of their previously-spacious cars. He bought a minivan.

I proceeded to give him grief about such a choice (what are sisters for?) and he started to launch into the virtues of owning such a vehicle. How they were getting it fitted with a DVD player for the kids. How they will have room for the third car seat for the new baby in a few months. How he can now just basically hand all the pants in his closet over to his wife (as clearly she will be wearing the pants in their family).

He retorted with just how comfortable his van is to ride in. That, sure, he wasn't in favor of it at first, but now what with all the comfort.

I replied, "Yeah, well, moo-moos are comfortable, too, and you don't see me walking around town in one."

So, Daniel, enjoy your new Moo-Moo (as that is what I will forever call any car that you drive). And when you are driving to JC Penny for some must-have fall fashions, and you look down to realize you've chipped a nail while plugging in Veggie Tales for the children, and simultaneously you're choking up listening to your favorite Celine Dion CD, just relish in your comfort. For you are a man. A real man.

A man who gave up looking cool so his wife would be happy.

And that, my dear brother, makes you a better man than you will ever know. (But I will be forced to still make fun of you, sorry).

14 comments:

marta said...

i've never thought of it that way, stie. you make an excellent case. moo moos and mini vans.. hee hee.

Portrait of Peter said...

How wonderful your descriptive post and in particular the conclusion - so beautifully stated.

A devoted family man!!

Travelin'Oma said...

Are you making fun of the egg?

Christie said...

I love the Egg, Omie, and would never endeavor to diminish eternal its place in this family.

(I just have to mock my brother for having an egg of his own, ya know?)

Bridget said...

From one SUV snob to another, I appreciate your blog. Death to mini-vans everywhere!

Christie said...

B, so glad you get the SUV snob thing - thought it was just me. We'll hold out till the end, you and me.

danandcindy said...

Well, while all of you SUV snobs are dinging the doors of other cars in the parking lots because your kids are wildly throwing the doors open, I'll be pushing the button that automatically opens the kids doors as they politely file out of the vehicle.

Would sweat pants be the male equivalent to the Moo moo? If that's the case I may as well start wearing sweats, because image means nothing to me now.

Anonymous said...

In defense of the mini van, it is practical and is not a gas guzzler. I suppose I can't complain since I rarely drive it.

Annie said...

Yeah, I'm a SUV snob at heart driving a Sienna. When we first had our three they didn't have the roomy options they do now in the SUVs. Sniffle. My good husband drives the minivan to work while I drive the sedan to school. What a man, huh? (But it you don't mind, I won't show him the taunting post, Stie :)

Jake said...

I know I'm not cool at all...but I am on my 2nd Odyssey and I LOVE it!!!

Anonymous said...

This post serves two purposes: 1)of course, to put down my thoughts on this matter and 2) to see if you, Stie, ever check past blogs for deliquent posts such as mine. Here goes purpose number one--a little over a year ago, due to the realization our family was going to become five, my husband was prompted to go car shopping for a slightly roomier vehicle (or so he says, he is happy to take any reason remotely resembling a ligitimate one to go car shopping). Our SUV at the time, which I loved oh so much, didn't fit three of our humongous car seats across nor did the before mentioned VERY LARGE car seat fit adequately in the pop up third row. We (or he rather) settled on a mini-van of sorts but I feel it is a good compromise since he got the Mercedes-Benz mini-van. It fits into two categories of cars I thought I would never drive but I feel they balance, or rather cancel each other out. Being it's a Mercedes-Benz I feel ups the anti on other mini-vans but being a mini-van I feel okay about driving a Mercedes. All in all it's a great car and one to check out if you are in the market--it leased for about 20 dollars more a month than the toyota! Yipee for me! So there you go, I drive a van and a mercedes, although, I guess I'm not as confident about either as I thought since I'm not divulging who I am :) Any guesses anyone?

Christie said...

I have no idea who you are, but have been wracking my brain trying to figure it out? Relative? Long-lost friend? Who do I know that just had a third kid this year? Hmmm... Do come out from under your anonymity...opinions are always welcome around here (and yes, I do check back posts!)

Anyone else know who this is?

Christie said...

Just figured it out...EMILY!

Anonymous said...

Touche, nicely done! Ha Ha