The Act of Being a Bieber (July 2008)

The Act of Being a Bieber

They catch a lot of slack, those Bieber's.


I'm one of them and not until recent, have I realized the full extent of what it actually means to be of such blood.  I've held tight to the reigns of spiritual rationalization and the effects of good karma, but being of the Bieber lineage really adds a touch of class to the situation, and my growing comprehension of it makes for a new perspective.
Eight children into the world of family allowed for my Mother and Father to prime the small town of Prattsburgh for what would become the largest onslought of truth and morals this side of the Canadian border. It was wondrous - having the responsibility of walking a fine line of truth while the remainder of those you met, fell by the wayside of pressures and deceat. I'm no Mother Mary, and Lord knows I've made my fair share of wrong decisions (for which I'm indebted to) but the realization that eventually makes it's way into adulthood, adds another twist. You see, being a Bieber isn't just another notch in the totem pole, it's a history. You're born into morale, family, understanding, hard-core heritage and ethics. You can sway from side to side while prancing through the teenage/young adult years, but inevitably, you return to the foundation of those morals and build (again, if necessary) from there. You have the foundation, and so, it cannot be trampled upon. 
Review the past six years or so and you'll find (atleast in my scenario) that the Bieber name has been spat on, squatted over and looked down upon, but it remains steadfast against the mouths of those treacherous liars - and all with a smile.  For there is truth in a smile - and that's the ingredient that can't (in most situations) be handled. 
We entered this week with the knowledge that my little boy's going to be five soon. He's skipping around his childhood with all too much responsibility on him already, but he does it with a humbleness that only God can grant. I check the calendar and because we dance with every-other weekend through our year, I figure that the weekend of his birthday, he won't be here so what better to do than have an early birthday party?  One that's really special - one that's family. Afterall, he's part of the Bieber family and what better to offer than that?  So we pack our bags, our new bike for G. and head West.  Walking in the door late at night, was when it hit me.  The light was left on for our arrival as my Mother always said that it's "so unwelcoming to come home to a dark house", so the light above the countertop flickers with content waiting for the birthday boy. 
The room is ready - beds for the kids, the smell of being home circulating around the house and just enough of a breeze to remember that it's Summer time and oh, so beautiful.  I hear the laughter from my brother and sister, who've waited up all night for us to visit, as they're sitting in the room watching reruns of Daffy Duck.  Just as I'm signing out for the night, the rest of my family says their "hello's" and their "goodnights" and diverge to bedrooms that have the quilts of generations-past on the beds and hugs for the promise of tomorrow in the evening.  They're tired - tired from the hard work that makes up each day - but it's a good tired.  A "thank God I'm alive" tired and you see that in every smile.  It's a "we wish we could help more" tired and a "I have something wonderful to show you in the morning" tired, and I miss it! 

The following two days were glorious with my newly polished love - it's watching my children take part in what is the most amazing part of my life; being a Bieber. They long for it, just as I do - they see that it takes hard work, sweat and tears to build a family such as mine and they want in.  I want to give them an in - well, really they're already there.  I guess it's the outside pressures - those termites of family values that are trying to eat their way through the structure. Damn things don't realize that we're all immune.  Immunity because of Faith, and Belief, and Trust.  The termite infestation is like being bitten by a mosquito after you've sprayed on the Spring Fresh Bug spray, wondering "how do they know to bite me?" Faith, belief and trust give you Truth - which is precisely the ingredient that will be the downfall.  Like the pillars of salt - they'll erode. I suppose I'm wishing that they'd erode at a bit faster pace and at the same time, knowing that I shouldn't wish such things. Initiate Faith. 

It all comes back around, that's what I keep telling myself. Just as my understanding for my wonderful family has highlighted the toils and tribulations - it's the essence of being part of something truly extraordinary and waking up to find yourself smack, dab in the middle of it all.  It'll come back around. For now, I'm thinking that there must be some way to sell tickets or give out "family favors" or something - maybe a billboard...

Breakfast on Sunday summed up the entire weekend.  We sit around the family dinner table - all totaling sixteen and out of the mouths of babes, comes, "I'm a Bieber!"  The smiles from fifteen other faces made my heart glad.