REMEMBERING MY BROTHER, CHARLIE

Four years ago February 4th,

 my daughter, Mimi,

and I were driving through a blinding snow storm

trying to reach Pennsylvania before 

my brother, Charlie,

went into surgery.

 He had gone in a couple of days prior and thought 

he had a bladder infection.

This is a man that was never sick a day in his life.

As it turned out, they never did do surgery.

He had gone from hale and hearty to

desperately ill in a few days time.

We got there late February 4th  and he was

very ill.

The dreaded words came from the doctor-

Stage Four Cancer.

Incurable.

Rare.

Fast moving.

No treatment available for this type of cancer.

He died the next day.

February 5th, 2013.

Even now it is surreal.

Even now I think I will pick up the phone 

and hear his 

half-laugh saying,

"Hello, Sister- Dearest"

(a take off on Mommy Dearest- don't ask)

Even now, I can hear him telling me 

how happy he was,

how much he loved the girl he had married,

how much he loved his children and grandchildren.

He was one of the kindest souls I have ever known.

Right after that Mimi invited me 

to spend a couple of days

with her and her boys 

while her hubby was out of town

I thought it was fitting to go.

And, as we mourned losing Charlie, 

we celebrated the fact

that she was carrying another little life around.

Another little girl to love.

Charlie loved Mimi.

She reminded him of our side of the family

with her curly red hair and her blue eyes.

He would have loved this baby, too.

This sweet little baby turned out to be our own little

Anna Ireland (Bright Eyes)

Rarely a day goes by that I don't

think about him and remember

something funny he said or did.

Missing you today, Charlie, 

but know I will see you again

someday.

You know where to look for me-

I'll be in the

not-quite-perfect corner.

Miss ya, buddy!