Brothers, Veterans and Whales

I’ve been through some sad times these past two months. Many of you have seen tougher days, I’m sure. But we all have our trials in life and it’s those trials that tend to bring us together, I think.

My brother died recently, not a young man, so it was no surprise. But the weeks and days leading up to it was an experience many of us can relate to.

He had his challenges, who doesn’t, but his became a challenge for me to deal with at times. Maybe more of you can relate to that are well.

I tried to help him as best I could; sometimes it worked, other times it was beyond my reach. But he was grateful for what I did, what my family did, to help him.

The whole experience was an episode of growth for me. I hate episodes of growth.

I never had been is such a position quite like this before. Maybe some of you can learn a thing or two from my humble essay. Maybe more of you will say, “Been there, done that.”

The days were dark with the details of death. I felt like the world was closing in. It was the kind of misery where you think, every time you wake up in the middle of the night, “What the hell should I do about this?"

But after it was over and I came back to my sweet Long Beach, I sucked in the salt air along with the rest of my shore denizens. The sky was bluer; every one of you boardwalk joggers, bikers, strollers and sitters, looked so much better.

I explain better here: https://leebythesea.me/2022/11/06/brothers-veterans-and-whales/

Be well,

Leebythesea