07-06 The Bros. Cruises

Here’s to Big John. That was the annual toast the four of us took, to remember our Dad, who died on January 16, 1980.
It was 1981, and we all went to Las Vegas. Beginning in 1982, for almost ten years, we went cruising together in Father’s memory. Ian was the organizer, and for most of our trips, four of us piled into one room with two bunks. Not a bad looking crew in their blazers for formal nights.
Ian used to bring booze poured into soft drink bottles, to get past the guards on the ships. They would be well labeled with names like, “Cat Piss” or “Monkey Vomit”. One of the stewards laughed so hard at Ian’s booze labels, he dropped his tray loaded with glasses. Those were the days when we were so youn, we could walk five miles and more once ashore.
Ian was a hoot. He would come with old clothes, and at the end of the cruise, throw all of these clothes into the garbage. Peter and I used to buy a box of Cuban cigars (even though we did not smoke), just to drive the American cigar smokers crazy. We would leave our cabin door open, and wait for someone to ask to buy one of our cigars.
One of our great adventures was when Robert made up shirts with “We’re not Gay, We’re Brothers” on the back and “We’re not Brothers, We’re Gay” on the front. I wore mine for about an hour. Ian wore his for the next four cruises. Peter said he was a big hit walking along the waterfront.
And on another occasion, Ian brought us all shirts with “Game Town USA” on the front, the name of his gaming store in Oakland.
I never appreciated my brothers when I was younger because I saw myself as the family slave. Go and play with Ian. Go and get Robert, he is running around the cottage without any clothes on. Take Peter around the block in his carriage. But as we became adults, we all became the best of friends. And those “bros cruises” will never be forgotten.