Death in the Family

My brother, a Vietnam Vet, died New Years Eve. I guess you could say that his nightmares will stop now. I hadn't seen him too often in the past few years. He didn't even attend our dad's funeral or our mom's. He said that it would be too hard for him. But then it wasn't easy for any of the rest of us either.

He's buried at Fort Snelling. It was a small service. The 21 gun salute and playing of Taps touched me and moved me deeply. It wasn't much of a stretch of my imagination to imagine my son there instead of my brother. I think that's what made the day doubly hard for me.

His first wife, still a friend after 35 years, sent me an email today. In it she said;

"As odd as it may seem, somewhere... way down deep... there is a very young girl who mourns the loss of a talented, sometimes funny, always handsome man. She mourns his death, but even more mourns the full productive rewarding life he never had. I am so glad that you and your sister were there for him. You are an amazing person. I know now where his sons get their big hearts... from you!"