John Lee Tipton With Brothers Ike, Jr and Ron

What to do on these hot and muggy days of the summer of 2023? Make a video compilation of old photos and videos of me and my two younger brothers John and Isaac Tipton, Sr. John passed away September of last year. This video compilation of our past times together will keep his memory alive forever.

Mothers and Brothers

 Brothers Isaac and John - 1954

Brothers John and Isaac 1979

"My boys", that is how my Mother always used to refer to me and my two younger brothers. 

Yesterday  I posted my annual Mother's Day tribute to our Mother. Both my brothers and I agree what we had the best mom ever. Even though she died ten years ago, she lives on through us.  She raised us to be responsible adults.  Even though she wasn't a "huggy" Mom, probably because she never had a mother to hug her, she loved us all the same without that outward show of affection.  In later life we (my brothers and I) would often hug her jokingly, because she would always stiffen up like a log when we did so.

Me and my brothers (I'm the tallest on the right with Isaac and John) during a visit to my cousins and Aunt Mable and Uncle Ed Tipton - 1947

At the end of her life, we took turns caring for her, fulfilling our promise that we wouldn't put her in a nursing home. It was a close call during the end of her life because she did become difficult, but we were able to keep that promise.

Now my brothers and I are at the end of our lives. Both my younger brothers are seriously ill.  Fortunately for them they both have a loving daughter that is their care giver. Thank goodness for them. I'm not in that situation though, I'm Bill's caregiver. If and when he goes, I'm on my own. And I can tell you right now, there isn't going to be anybody else coming into this house. Except maybe a dog or/and cat to keep my company.


These days during my layoff from work (I return this Thursday) I've been organizing my photos.  I came across these two photos of my brothers taken many years ago.  Growing up I didn't hang around them except that we lived in the same house and slept in the same bed.
  

Me getting ready for bed 1957). Brother John took this phone, brother Isaac was already in the bed. I hated this bedding arrangement. To this day I sleep alone. Yes, ALONE.

Yep, that's right, the three of us slept in the same bed until I got my own fold away bed after incessant complaining to my Mother. Of course we were still in the same bedroom but I finally got my own bed.

My first bed - still shared the bedroom with my brothers (they had bunk beds) but I had my own corner of  the bedroom. Hallelujah!
         

 I was fourteen years old when that momentous event happened. Anyway, back to the two photos of my brothers. It seems that brother John was always showing brother Isaac how something worked. The photos of the three of us together always show me a slight distance from both of them. 

Isaac, me and John. Enjoying our Dixie Cup treat after weeding Pop's corn Summer of 1954

Soon the three of us will be a memory. Hopefully some family member will rescue my old photos that are in my basement media room, here on this computer and posted to my blog. That would be nice but I doubt that will happen. No one in my extended family (my brothers' children, grand children and great grandchildren) has shown the slightest interest in our shared family history. That is sad but true. I try not to think about it while I'm here. When I'm gone it won't matter because I will no longer feel bad about it.  

Brother John, me and Isaac with Isaac's daughter Dawn and granddaughter Kandacc - 1987

Family Matters

Today I had a call from one of my brothers. He informed me that our other brother is very ill. 

Today my estrangement from my brothers ended. 

Whatever differences we had in the past, they mean nothing now.  Those differences are minor and probably mostly my fault due to my overly sensitive nature. 

My brothers and I are about a year apart in age, which means we're all old.  

All three of us are facing increasing medical issues. Years ago we used to take care of our Mother. We all teased our Mother about all her doctors' appointments. Karma has a way of getting back to you. Now we schedule our weeks and months around medical appointments.

My brothers and I had a wonderful Mother. We also had a good father but he was mostly indifferent to us. My brothers and I were always closer to our Mother than our father. However, my youngest brother, who I feature here in my video compilation, was the "pet" of our father, which I highly resented when I was younger.  But then I was the "moma's boy" so I guess it all evened out except for our middle brother. Oh yes, we had the classic sibling definition. But I have to say our Mother loved us all even though she didn't display physical affection like hugs. We weren't a "huggy" family but she protected us like a fierce Moma Bear. And we weren't spoiled either. She taught us all responsibility and how to fend for ourselves. A good Mother, we were very lucky to have such a mom.

Mom and "her boys" - 1951

However, as I became an adult we grew very close.  I grew to respect and like my youngest brother, much to my surprise, as I never had when we were younger.

Growing up I kept mostly to myself with my friends. My two younger brothers were best friends.

Now we're at that time of our life when we realize that most of our best days are behind us.  Now we're all fighting against Father Time.  Trying to eek out a few more good days, weeks, months and even years of peace and serenity with our families.

Labor Day- 2005

My youngest brother is very ill. I plan to visit him next month. It will be good to see him again.

I'm glad we're all back together. This is as it should be. 

Petty differences and hurt feelings. They mean nothing at a time like this.  

We're brothers. Mom always called us "My boys."

She took good care of us.  Now is the time for us to take care of one another. 

August 2010 - my father's funeral - last time we were all together

Friends and lovers come and go. 

Brothers are forever.

French Creek State Park, July 26, 1956 (I remember the day because it was the day the ocean liner Andrea Doria sunk)

My Brother From Another Mother?

Pat and me - downtown Toronto August 2014

A funny thing happened on my way to the forum when I began to hang around with my new Canadian friend Pat. More than once strangers have stopped us in the street and asked "Are you two brothers?"  

The first time it happened was two years ago in downtown Lewes, as we were exiting Nectar, the juice bar in Lewes. If I remember correctly, Pat was talking to another customer who was former Canadian now naturalized American citizen.  During the conversation he took a look at us and our larger than normal proboscises and asked "Are you two brothers?"  At first I was a little confused because I had never considered the notion that we were similar in appearance but found it interesting that a complete stranger would mistake us for brothers. Then actually I was a bit flattered because I do consider Pat a very attractive man and hey, by reflection then I must be attractive?  Right?  But I have to watch myself here, don't want to be considered too narcissistic (even though I am but that's supposed to be a secret). 

When we were in Philadelphia last year this time, as we were ascending the elevator to our room at the Latham Hotel, a stranger in the elevator asked us if we were brothers.  They said "You both look so alike."  Well, I know we think alike.  In fact so much, it's almost uncanny.  We both get along very well, almost too well.  Again, uncanny.  Pat sometimes knows what I'm thinking before I realize it myself.  Scary. Again, we were both flattered that a stranger had mistaken us for brothers.

Me and Pat at Rehoboth Beach last year - his glasses are bigger than mine

The latest "sighting" came in Pat's neighborhood in Toronto as we were headed out for dinner during my August visit to his home. We stopped to talk to one of Pat's neighbors and she asked if we were brothers!  There we go again.  So there must be something to it. 

I've joked with Pat that our DNA is probably split from the same amoeba.  

Just for the record here I am with my real brothers.  And by the way, we are three brothers who could not be more different in both appearance and personality.

Me and my real brothers - 2005

In January Pat and I will meet in Los Angeles to celebrate our mutual birthdays (mine was in November, Pat's is in December).  We won't be surprised this time if, while we're walking down Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood that some faded movie star walks by us, stops and turns around and says "Pardon me, are you two brothers?"

Brothers From Another Mother ?

Two separate iPhone message photos we exchanged just yesterday - we didn't plan this shot but look how we're both posed the same way and with the same smiles - now if Pat ditched those "Owl" glasses . . . . . . 

The first time it happened was last November in an elevator at the Latham Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Pat and I were in the elevator going up to our room at the Latham when another guest entered the elevator, took a look at us and asked "Are you two brothers?"  At first Pat and I were amused by this question because the thought that we looked alike never entered our minds up until that moment.  

Since we had met the previous August we knew our personalities were very much alike.  In fact, so much alike either he would know what I was thinking or vice a versa.  At times it was uncanny at how we could read each other's thoughts and moods.  I always said I wanted to someday meet someone like myself.  And lo and behold, here I did when I meet Pat for the first time in the Hotel Blue parking lot on that late summer afternoon of August 16th, 2013.  So it was with some amusement that a stranger would think we looked enough alike to mistake us for brothers.  

Several times since that first initial sighting, we have had strangers ask us if we were brothers.  The latest such occurrence happening when we were walking down the street where Pat lives in Toronto and one of his neighbors asking "Are you two brothers?"

Well, actually, Pat does look more like my brother than my actual two brothers.  Look at the photo below of me with my two younger brothers (with our Mother) and judge for yourself.

Me with my two brothers John and Isaac and our Mother 2005

My Little Brothers

The Tipton Brothers - Ron, Isaac and John December 1985

I am the oldest of three brothers.  I have no sisters.  

I was born in 1941.  My second brother Isaac, Jr. was born in 1943.  He was named after my father because my Mother said she hated the name "Isaac".  Also, Isaac is blonde as was our father.

My brother Isaac, Jr. - 1945

Isaac W. Tipton, Jr. Army MP Germany

My third brother John was born in 1944. He was named after our uncle John Hannum Tipton who our family thought died in World War II (he was a paratropper who parachuted into Belgium).  After the war we discovered our uncle John was a prisoner of war in a German prisoner of war camp in an Austrian castle.

My Uncle John H. Tipton (on right) - 1943

My brother John Tipton - ironically he spent his Army years also in Germany as a driver

Growing up my brothers were best buddies with each other, I was more distant.  I'm not sure if it was because I was gay and felt different or just because I was older.

Me (in the middle) pushing the point in on my brother John's goofy hat.  I remember doing this!  - 1947

I had my own set of friends away from my brothers.  Even though we were only a year apart in age I felt much older.

Of course we had our "differences" growing up. Mainly because both of them resisted my direction as the Older Brother. 

Proof positive that Big Brother Ron is still giving directions to his "little" brothers - 2010

There was a time when I was the biggest brother in not only age but size.  That distinction soon disappeared when I didn't take the second helpings of Mom's biscuits and gravy.

Me (middle) enjoying a Dixie Cup after weeding our eight rows of Pop's corn - 1951

At some point I receded into the smallest Tipton man in our family.  

Me (in the middle) with my brother John and our father Isaac, Sr.- 1962

These days I have shrunk to 6'3".  My youngest brother John is 6'6" and Isaac is 6'5".  Both weigh just under 300 lbs.  I weigh 170 lbs.  

Me and my "little" brothers - 2010

Me (left) with Isaac and John - 1980

One thing my brothers and I had in common though, we all loved our Mom.  She lived for "her boys."  Of course Pop came first but she did everything for us.  We are the men we are today because of her positive and caring influence. Below is a photo of the last time we were all together.  It was taken in 2005 at the Exton Mall.  I arranged to have a professional photo taken of us as a family, something I never got a chance to do while my father was alive and which I regret to this day.  This photo is a collage of photos taken of us while we waited at the J.C. Penney photo studio.  Our Mom was our best friend.

September 2005

Mom with "her boys" - 2005

Brothers John, Ron and Isaac - 2005

Isaac, John and me at the French Creek State Park - 1955 - the day the Andrea Doria sunk (I remember where I was)

Brothers John and Isaac with kittens - Isaac has a cat today - check out the bare feet - we never wore shoes in the summer time - 1955

Pop and Mom and me (middle) with my brothers John (left) and Isaac (right) - 1946

These days I don't get to see my brothers often.  John lives in Greenville, South Carolina.  He still works and is a care pastor at the Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville.

 Isaac lives in the family home in Downingtown, Pennsylvania with his cat Ditto.  

Isaac and me at the family home in Downingtown, PA - 2012

Me with my brothers on my back deck in 2010.  Guess whose in charge?  So obvious. 

Veterans' Day 2012

A collage put together by my sister-in-law Barbara Tipton (John's wife) of me and my brothers Isaac and John and our parents - who raised us right

Today is a very special day.  This is a day when we salute all those veterans who gave to their country their time, limbs and life to protect the many freedoms we have today.  

Me and my brothers Isaac and John - civilians

Not to be too political but this is one of the many reasons I could not vote for the Romney/Ryan ticket.  A presidential candidate who didn't even consider our veterans or armed force service members worthy of a mention in his acceptance speech is not a candidate worthy to be president.  A candidate who has five healthy sons, none of whom saw the need or moral character to volunteer their service to their country isn't fit to be president.  A candidate and vice presidential candidate who has vowed to cut services to our veterans and who deems them as part of the "47%" who says:

...who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it -- that that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. ... These are people who pay no income tax. ... [M]y job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

A candidate for president who demonstrated in support of the Vietnam war for his peers yet spent his draft eligibility years bicycling around France, making love letters in the sand to his future wife Anne.  

I could go on and on such as no member of Romney's family ever served in the military; father, grandfather or great-grandfather yet they have reaped so many rewards from the land of opportunity called the United States of America.

My heart goes out to all those young men and women who have lost limbs and are permanently disabled for the rest of their lives by the war of choice in Iraq.  

And finally, it doesn't help those who have lost their loved ones but I salute and have the utmost respect for those families who have lost their loved ones during their tour of duty in the service.

My brother John Lee Tipton - 1962

My family was fortunate.  I joined the Army in 1960 and my younger brothers quickly followed their big brother into the Army.  We thought it was the right thing to do, to give back to our country for the privilege of living her and enjoying its freedoms.  

My brother Isaac Walter Tipton, Jr. - 1962

Many members of my family have also done so, just like members of millions of other American families.  At this one time of year we recognize and appreciate them.  They deserve our recognition year round.

Me (Big Brother) Ronald Walter Tipton - 1960

Do you part, if you see a man or women in uniform or discover an older man or woman who is a veteran, thank them for their service.  I always do as does my partner Bill (who is also a nine year veteran of both the Army and Air Force).  It will make you feel better and it will always bring a smile to that veteran's face.  There is no greater good that we can do.

Me (center) and brothers Isaac (left) and John (right) - 1951 - during more innocent years