Robert, It's Been a Year!!

  A year ago today, I received news that my brother, Robert, had passed away.  We weren't close and hadn't visited in quite some time, but it still saddened me.  His case worker, Mickey, called me to let me know.  She loved him deeply and for that I am grateful.  Robert chose an opposite path to mine in life and it made it very difficult to establish and keep a sibling relationship.  I loved him and I miss what could have been if not for drugs and alcohol.  I put together a book of pictures, etc. and Mikki put them and some other things in a box for Ciara, his daughter.  There was a celebration of life ceremony at the shelter he hung out at, cooking and serving others.  I was asked to attend and was happy I did.  I left that day feeling that Robert had a lot of very positive qualities and had really tried to turn his life around the last year.  It was just too late to reverse the damage already done to his body.  And, then, in September, we buried his urn in Mom's plot.  He was given full military rites and it was a nice little service.  His dear friend, Sean, made a beautiful wooden box to hold the urn.  I was to be given the flag, but felt it should be given to Mickey.  Protocol said I had to receive it, so after that I was able to about face and present it to Mickey.  Kind of cool, really.  She put it in the box for Ciara.
  We had given Robert Mom's flag when she passed away and Mickey returned that to me, all dry-cleaned and on a hanger.  I need to get Shawn to fold it once again.  I will never forget Robert's face of total surprise when my son presented it to him.  It was hard for Shawn to do it, too, but he did it at my request.  It was truly amazing.
   I know that the moment he arrived in Heaven, that Mom was there to scold him for behaving so badly and then gave him a big forgiving hug.  I hope that he and dad now have the opportunity to get to know one another without all the earthly baggage.  Wow!!  A year ago!!  And for almost a year, I have been "the last Quam standing", and an orphan.  But oh what changes a few weeks can bring...  but that's a whole new post:)

 Military Ceremony

 Robert's friend, Sean, attaching lid to the box he made for the urn.

Our family picture taken on Mom's 80th birthday.