MY BROTHER AND DEAN MARTIN

BY DAN MILLER
November 15, 2006

Funny how your perspective on things can change over the years.

It was more than 45 years ago when my brother Lynwood -- who's seven years younger than me -- took a paper clip, or some sort of sharp object, and scratched a slight little line along the cardboard jacket of the Dean Martin album you see pictured here.

This is the actual album cover.... (that's right, I still have it!)
The marks he inflicted were really quite minor.... they don't even show up in this photo.... but, I can tell you, they sort of followed the frontal outline of the woman looking at Dean Martin.

Well, as you know -- when anything bad happens to your Dean Martin album, it can wreck your day.

When I noticed the scratch marks, I did what any right thinking big brother would do.... I chased my brother around the room with a broom.
When he hid under the bed.... since I couldn't swing at him with the broom.... I jabbed at him with the straw bristles, making some little red marks on his arm and chest.
No damage done, but years later, I felt bad about the disproportionate punishment I had dealt for such a minor crime, and I apologized.

Amazingly to me, Lynwood -- who now works in medical research in Atlanta -- didn't even recall the crime or punishment.
But I do.... and I still think about it from time to time.

Not long ago, I took out that old Dean Martin album -- and I studied the little scratch marks put there more than four decades ago, and I smiled.
It's still a wonderful album.... still in good shape.... and Dean Martin still sings as terrific as ever.

But truly, the album means more to me now.... and I treasure those little marks made by my mischievous little brother, so far back in our lives.

Yep, it's funny what really matters, and how perspective can change over the years.

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