Brent says: "My mom says that my sister Lisa and I got along just fine until she learned how to talk. After that, it's said, it was all downhill. And I would have to agree; Lisa and I had what I would best describe as an "adversarial" relationship growing up. I found her intolerable and annoying; she found me to be bratty and mean. Much like the Palestinians and Israelis, peace agreements brokered by our parents often failed and violence was the result.

"Fortunately, no real harm was ever done, and ever since we went our separate ways in college, the cold war ended and the loving sibling relationship that was buried beneath was allowed to green and blossom.

"I have much respect for Little Lis. Despite being three years younger, she has managed to get married before me, own her first house and new car before me, start her own business and be the first child to escape my mother's dislike of dogs by taking in Bear, a brilliant yet temperamental Belgian Shepard and Moka, a loving but "dumb as a box of rocks" chocolate lab. I also have a feeling that I will be "Uncle Brent" before she ever becomes "Aunt Lisa." Lisa might have been second out, but so often I am the one following her footsteps."