My brother was stretched out in his recliner and I was lolling on his sofa, facing his side. The California sun was going down and its fading light fell over him like running water. As we talked, I became increasingly distracted. He was changing without moving. I tried to keep my part of the conversation going but it wasn’t easy; I was watching something I’d never seen before.
He morphed like some special effect from a movie, and became someone I knew but couldn’t name. Then I realized it was our Grandpa Mauck, whom I hadn’t seen since I was about ten, when he died. The shadows had sculpted everything about my brother that was like our grandpa into our grandpa. Grandpa stayed and talked with me; my brother was gone.
It scared the bejabbers out of me. At the same time I felt there was something wonderful about it. It was ominous and reassuring all at once. I tried to talk myself out of it, but the sense of portent was there. Still it hit hard last week when I got the call: my brother had died. Our last visit was just that.
During this past year, his emails had been uncharacteristically terse. If he thought he was pulling wool over my eyes, he thought wrong. I knew his/our medical history. I knew something was going on. It wasn’t what he said; it was what he didn’t say.
I look back. As the sun went down on the other side of my brother and I could see less and less of him, I saw something more. As he communicated less and less, I heard something more.
And I think about how we grasp what’s there from what isn’t there.
December 21, 2018 at 11:47 am
I am so very sorry for your loss. But, I do understand about the aging process. I look in the mirror sometimes and see my Mother and when I look at my husband, I now can see his Dad. Life is a journey for sure.
December 21, 2018 at 11:51 am
Thanks, Judy. Yes, our ancestors live in us for sure: I see my Grandma O’Hern in the mirror all too often! I like to think that they are with us on this journey.
December 21, 2018 at 4:15 pm
As we age, we realize how truly tenuous our hold on life is, what a small step it is from life to death. Thinking of you and sending my love at this sad time.
December 21, 2018 at 4:23 pm
You are so right about the tenuous hold. It is that. I very much appreciate your thoughts and your love. Thanks, Judy!
December 22, 2018 at 12:19 am
I am very sorry to hear this news, beautifully expressed as always. I’ll be raising a glass to your brother and in support of you from around our winter solstice fire.
December 22, 2018 at 10:02 am
Oh, thank you, Susan! My brother would like that, and I am grateful!