For a long time now I’ve contented myself with the ghost
of a brother rather than my real one.
On my last post P – Phone Ghost, I deleted a comment from
an anonymous poster because it was a message for me personally.
A chastisement, actually.
And probably deserved.
It reminded me that I have a brother. On that post,
I should have extended the sentence “The last of my immediate family was gone”
by adding the words “… with whom I was on speaking terms.”
He and I have been estranged since just a few months after
our mother's death in November of 2000.
I won’t go into the why because
not a single thing I could say would make either of us look good.
So I kept him out of the post. It stands as memoir,
not autobiography.
For the record, Mark and I have seen each other three
times over the last twelve years, and those occasions were fine, though two
involved death. Our sister’s, and just a couple of years ago, our aunt’s.
But we got along.
I will do him justice by saying that he handled all of the
arrangements for Deborah, including donating her body to UT Southwest Medical
Center or some other research facility in the area, something I know she would
have wanted.
He also set up a lovely memorial service at the church she
attended.
He did well.
He currently has her ashes and I would trust them to no
one else save our cousin Chandra. Deborah meant as much to him as to me.
In this photo, taken twenty-something years ago, I'm on the far left. Mark is on the right. The gentleman in the center is the late Adam Roarke, acting coach and friend, and one of Quentin Tarantino's favorite actors.
The deleted post went on to say … “Each day you both grow
older and I pray each night that this time will end and brothers will reunite
as they should.”
Yes, we are getting older. I’m 55 and he’s 46.
I’ll blink and be 75 to his 66, or maybe one or both of us won’t ride the train that
far down the line.
To that, my friend Jodie’s Q post has become a venous hum
for me today. Q – is for Quality of Life
Venous hum in the best of ways.
Mark and I should talk.
The question is how.
It's so hard when families fall apart. Sometimes we can't even remember what it was we were so angry about, but still...we hold the grudge. I haven't spoken to my sister since my father passed away. I don't even know where she is. Why not give it a shot with your brother. It could be he is wishing for the same thing and not knowing how to get started. Nothing ventured nothing gained right?
ReplyDeleteSo sad! I hope the two of you are able to come to terms. New follower here. I'm stopping by from the "A to Z" challenge and I look forward to visiting again.
ReplyDeleteSylvia
http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/
I don't know. I have nothing to do with my parents, both elderly now, and I'm feeling fine. I don't wish to speak to them or have a relationship, so I won't. People tell me all the time what I should or should not do, and I grow so weary of hearing the phrase "but they're the only parents you have" you know? I don't care. If I cared, I would have taken action. So I'd say to you, do what YOU want to do, and only that. Don't be swayed by what other people say. Honour yourself, how ever that looks.
ReplyDeleteWow Rocky. It astounds me that I literally don't think as I write. It just comes out and I post, never truly thinking anyone else will read it let alone consider it. You'll know what the right thing to do is and when. Xx
ReplyDeleteYou'll know the when and how, when it's time. And send me hints when you find out. I have estranged family, as well, so i know it's not easy. And I haven't yet found my right time, place, approach.
ReplyDeleteWell written and strong.
it's not easy, some would say just pick up the phone and begin by saying 'hello, it's me' and seeing where it takes you. Others would say go meet him face to face and see what happens. Truth be told there is no right or wrong way. Fear is what keeps us apart, and while you may go 'I'm not afraid' there is a part of you that is very nervous and fearful that it might have been too long. As the add says...'just do it'. Wishing you well.
ReplyDelete