Rustin Oscar Reidhead

Little Russy (the hussy) was born Nov. 29, 1981, only 17 months after my mom delivered Ryan. I was told just a few weeks ago that my parents thought he was a girl but nope they got another boy and him and Ryan couldn't be more opposite! Here are some funny stories about Rustin...

Rustin, Tara and I all worked at Torreon in Show Low and I'm pretty sure people were amazed at how different we all are and that the place is still standing. Rustin had more hussle than any other worker there or in the history of that place. Many times he told people to "go to hell" on my behalf whether it was the boys my age who were rude at times, my boss who called me BURLY, or the chef who made perverted comments. Of course, Rustin is also the one who nicknamed me Manica and I sure hated/hate it but I find more humor in it now. I never thought it would stick but yep!

Rustin is the talented (aka favorite) of the family and he knows it and walks a little more proudly now that we acknowledge it more. Of course he still comes in second to the half blind "dog".

When Cody and I went to New York and crashed at his crib (its about the same size of a crib actually) we were buying tickets for a broadway play when a guy came around handing out Free Drink passes for a bar down the road. He gave two to my mom and then looked at me and said, "and a shirley temple for the little one." I laughed. Then Rustin walked up and said, "oh and a Doc Holladay for you." No one can ever guess Rustin's age!

Rustin does the most annoying trick in the book....repeatedly. If you ask him to throw you something he'll pretend to throw it over and over and over.....AND OVER again just to see how many times you'll fall for it. So annoying. One time he did it with a big package of toilet paper and I kept putting my hands up to block my face but the one time I didn't fall for it, he actually threw it and it hit me in the face resulting in a bloody nose.

He can yell ridiculously loud and it is real intimidating. When he does it I never know if he's kidding or for real because its so believable.

When we used to carpool to work at blessed Torreon, I would fly around the round abouts in my red station wagon (lovingly passed down from Taralee) and he would sit in the passenger seat and make tire squealing noises. I'd say, "quit squeailng my tires." By the end of the summer our tire noises were perfected! Last month when he was here, I was dropping Cody off at school and he did it. Classic.

He dances better than anyone I know and I know he thanks his Carmen Electra dance videos. He's taught me a few things.

Rustin always makes me feel good because he laughs at my jokes....well he's probably laughin at me but thats ok.

We're the only family who understands the "shoulder shake" laugh. Its as funny the millionth time as it was the first.

He let me drive his BMW for about two minutes before losing hope and telling me to get out. That time I knew he wasn't kidding when he yelled. haha.

We nicknamed our boss Carey Bennett, CB for two reasons...Care Bear or Crazy B****. For Christmas Rustin gave me the idea to give him a great big Care Bear and I did.

I now realize Rustin put thoughts in my head that sounded cool but once I did them, I looked like a total idiot. I was a his ginny pig.

He always won best dressed on Cowboy night and always clogged for everyone. Also his boots had no insole and he would have nails stabbing his foot. What that kid won't do to win a competition.

He took me running one time and his encouragement was more like a guilt trip for not keeping up with him. I couldn't walk for two days. I haven't ran with him since.

He wore nylon plaid blue pants to work on the 4th of July and he stayed up with me that night after he convinced me to make a festive shirt. I hung beads off of the sleeves like the shirts my mom used to make us girls when we clogged. Again...ginny pig.

When he broke his ankle, I never once heard him complain about it hurting.

At All-State Choir his senior year, he had the said broken ankle but only had a soft cast on it after his surgery. For some stupid reason he had to be in the very back row, dead center on the risers. He crutched out on stage, he tried to crutch up the riser and his crutch slipped out from underneath him resulting in a fall. He ate it hard! He jumped up and hopped up the rest of the risers and over to the center. The whole theatre gasped and my dad barely caught it all on tape. Of course we all laughed but we did wait for him to pass out but he never did. On the tape my dad whispers, "who's kid is that?" hahaha!

He came to my second prego appointment and probably saw more than he wanted but he got to see and hear the baby's heart beat.

I love Rustin and have always been thankful for his willingness to help out and the fact that he can entertain anyone. He's an awesome big brother and an awesome example in so many ways.


I would put pictures but I know my internet will disconnect if I do anything but type.