Thursday Coffee Hour: The Longest Day

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Thursday August 29, 2013 · 1:05 PM PDT

2013/08/29 · 13:05

Welcome to Thursday Coffee Hour. This is an open topic thread so help yourself to the goodies and sit a spell and let us know what is new with you. Personally this is going to be an extremely long day for me. One year ago today my brother Mike died without warning. A few days before he had fallen and hit his head and it was three days before anyone found him. He had broken his back. He was starting to recover and they were doing mild physical therapy when he suddenly started throwing up and it got into his lungs, cut off oxygen to his brain, and stopped his heart. They got the heart going again but he never regained consciousness.

I have never spent a longer year then this one has been. I never knew I had the strength in me to battle the demons my brother left behind. I came to realize the extent that Vietnam had destroyed him. I learned that those so-called friends he thought he had were not good people at all but leeches. They bled him dry taking money that should have gone to his daughter and grandchildren. I had a humongous financial mess to clean up. I had a house that was trashed by neglect that had to be cleaned up and sold. I found that people who had my phone number and knew Mike had turned to drink couldn't be bothered to call including his priest.

I learned I had more strength inside me then I ever thought was possible. I learned that I could fight indifferent companies and win. My family learned just how much I could do and how much they could depend on me.

I also learned I really hate having to be the oldest child and the family matriarch. I miss Mom and Mike. I also know that I have to be Mom, Dad, Grandmother, Big Sister, Aunt, and Crisis Control. My family needs me. There is no one else capable of filling those positions.

Mike and Mom between tours of duty in Vietnam.

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