The Brooklyn Brothers

Sometimes I feel like Dave and I are connected by a bond akin to a fraternal slinky—we may stray from one another temporarily, but we will inevitably be drawn back to living in the same place. In 2013, as Dave approached college graduation, we all wondered where in the country he would end up. What great news when we learned he had chosen Brooklyn—the brothers were united once again! For nearly two years we lived in the same place, at first literally in the same house and then, later on, a 10-minute walk apart.

Ray, Dave, and two visiting friends on Dave’s first night back in Brooklyn, 

August 2013

In April, Dave moved to Denver and the fraternal slinky stretched out once again. But it didn’t take long for coils to begin to tighten—the very next month I accepted a job at the High Mountain Institute in the Rocky Mountain town of Leadville…Colorado here I come! But since New York is in out blood, it wouldn’t be fair for us to leave without a true Brothers Unite tribute to the great memories we’ve made here over the past two years.

Ray & Dave: just a pair of Nets supportin’…

Vegetarian food cravin'…

Vegetarian food cravin'…

Bright color wearin’…

Thrift store lovin'…

Christmas tree decoratin’…

Easter egg huntin’…

(Occasionally) church attendin’…

(Even more occasionally) volunteerin’…

…Brooklyn Brothers!

It’s been nothing short of spectacular, Dave. Can’t wait for the next chapter.

Cabin Fever

A few years out from college, Ray and I have both moved out from home. With all the places in the country that call to both of us, it's amazing that we've ended up living in the same neighborhood in Brooklyn! We now reside about five blocks apart in Crown Heights, just down the hill from Prospect Park and more conveniently located and certainly more "urban" than the house we grew up in (a mere 20 minute subway ride away). 

Finding that, despite our proximity, we don't see each other as much as would like, we decided to getaway on what is now the second annual Berkshires cabin trip! 

We arrived late on a freezing cold Friday night

and with the echoes of the workweek still in earshot 

we put our feet up

and began to make our own soundtrack. 

Just three hours earlier we were here, the business and tourism capital of the U.S.

and then we woke up here 

kings and queens

of our new backyard.

We are surrounded by nature

and by friends

with plenty to watch

and to admire.  

But mainly we were here for this

and this

for the sights of new places

and people

and time with old friends,

to be weird

and eerie

and to enjoy the view. 

Here's to a cabin trip that couldn't have come at a better time, or have been shared with better people. Here's to brothers who are privileged to regularly unite!

Legendary dirtbaggery.