Back We Go 
Blame Nick for the infrequent posts lately. He was just too damn distracting. When we weren’t busy sightseeing, we were playing a game or talking or eating. You could put the two of us in a room with a deck of cards, some burgers and fries, maybe a glass of scotch (for you, Nick), and we’d be more than happy for weeks.
…But it wasn’t always that way. A few years ago, we would’ve been yelling at each other for cheating, protecting our stashes of fries, and chucking the glass at the other person’s head. Ask any of our friends, for they would remember how awful (and entertaining) it was to hang out with us. Everything became a fight, from who got to sit in the front seat to who held the remote control – the stupidest things you could imagine.
In retrospect, it was because we’re so similar. We knew exactly how to push each other’s buttons, and never could admit that we might actually agree. Someone had to win. When I applied to Harvard-Westlake, I was copying him. If he bought the same shirt, I had it first. Nick looked like me, not the other way around.
Then one day, something clicked. All of the little things that were once sources of conflict created a “lovey brother” bond unlike any other friendship. Whether it was because we matured or because Nick feared that I could blackmail him during his Presidential campaign, we started to bring out the best in one another. We realized it’s simply much less effort and much more fun to get along. The resentment turned into respect, and, though I’m a few inches taller, I will always look up to him.
The combination of having Nick here and being in amazing places made the past ten days perfect. From Easter Island, we flew back to Santiago and toured a bit before Nick had to return to his part of America. He is now back in Boston – freezing and “working on papers,” while I must go back to traveling the world…
PS. Big batch of photos just uploaded, from Buenos Aires to Easter Island. Check ‘em out in the Photo Gallery!
that was truly a joy to read because for the past two minutes all i’ve been doing is recalling some of the funniest scenes in the Melvoin household. I have personally witnessed you two chasing eachother around the house, battling for shotgun, playing intense ping pong, facing off in trivial pursuit, arguing over who has more friends…god i could go on and on. For years I feared the day you grew taller than Nick because I knew you would never let him live it down and he’d have to find some other way to retaliate and then…POOF! Lovey Brothers! LB! A total phenomenon and truly a beautiful thing to witness. Lets not forget that strict competition is still in place, and no matter who wins (usually ends up that both of you claim victory) it always ends well. Cant wait to witness the official Melvoin lovey brother reunion this summer…miss you both,
April 5th, 2006 at 1:15 pmEm