PICTURE POST!

[thestrangequark]

^Thanks.

This is something very special. My mom emailed it to me yesterday, and it's taken me a little time to absorb. This is my big brother. Sometimes people are skeptical when I say I'm half Native American, because I look so white -- I think he got all the coffee in the family and my sisters and I got all the milk! We have the same funny ears, though, and the same chin.
He died 16 years ago. He was 16. I was 12. He had type 1 diabetes and his blood sugar dropped after a tennis match when he was driving home alone. He had pulled over his car and gotten out his testing supplies but just didn't catch it in time. Ten months later I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Because of a story too complicated to go into, all but one photo of him we had (and that one as a very young boy and from behind) were lost. My mom just found this one, and although I don't know why, for some reason I've just felt like sharing it with everyone I know, at work, at home, online...everyone:

 

[Kira's Mom]

^Aw, so sorry about your brother.

I just finished my gift for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary:

 

[Data Holmes]

^Thanks.

This is something very special. My mom emailed it to me yesterday, and it's taken me a little time to absorb. This is my big brother. Sometimes people are skeptical when I say I'm half Native American, because I look so white -- I think he got all the coffee in the family and my sisters and I got all the milk! We have the same funny ears, though, and the same chin.
He died 16 years ago. He was 16. I was 12. He had type 1 diabetes and his blood sugar dropped after a tennis match when he was driving home alone. He had pulled over his car and gotten out his testing supplies but just didn't catch it in time. Ten months later I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Because of a story too complicated to go into, all but one photo of him we had (and that one as a very young boy and from behind) were lost. My mom just found this one, and although I don't know why, for some reason I've just felt like sharing it with everyone I know, at work, at home, online...everyone:

Sorry for your loss. He was a handsome young man.

 

[Shanndee]

I'm so sorry you lost you brother. I hope receiving this photo brings back some happy memories for you. Thank you for sharing it.

 

[thestrangequark]

^Thanks...you know, the weird thing is that I'm not a very sentimental person in general, I was surprised at how much seeing this picture has affected me. I'm not usually one to sit around and wonder "what if..." Maybe it was seeing his funny ears, which are the exact same as mine. No one else in the family has those ears. And that spot above the eyelid and below the brow...
I just keep wondering what he'd be like if he'd grown up.

I'm not sad, though. I mean, it was 16 years ago, so I don't want to bring down the mood by sharing that photo. Rather, I just want more people to see him, and his beautiful, gentle smile.

 

[Amaris]

He really does have a beautiful, sweet smile, tsq. You honor him just by remembering and sharing his spirit with the rest of us.

 

[captcalhoun]

i knew it was RDM, i just didn't comment...

 

[SPOCKED]

Ridiculously hot family.

awww

tsq, your brother's story is heartbreaking. I'm so very sorry for your loss.

 

[cooleddie74]

Same here, tsq. I'm so, so very sorry for your family's loss and I hope that you've been able to gain a measure of strength and courage from it all. All my best. {{{Squishy hug}}}

 

[thestrangequark]

Thanks to everyone for your kind words, but truly, I learned a long time ago that the best way to deal with loss is to do one's best celebrate the life that was rather than mourn the life that wasn't.

Something really remarkable happened, actually -- there are more! Nearly a dozen! My mom emailed them all to me this morning. We really thought they were lost years ago! I'm so overwhelmed (in a good way) seeing all these photos! Here are some of my favorites:

This one really made me laugh, because I wore pretty much this exact outfit to work yesterday -- black bowler hat and all! I guess awesome fashion sense is genetic!!!

 

[Rincewiend]

Just get a cup of tea, reminisce of those wo are gone and smile about all the good times you had

 

[Amaris]

Those are awesome (and adorable) pictures, tsq.

 

[Lumi]

Love the pics of your brother, tsq. Thank you for sharing. I'm so sorry for your loss....

Hmm, here are some recent ones of the children in my life:

My niece, Annabelle, and nephew, Austin.... wrestling.

Austin... with a dirty shirt after mac & cheese dinner.

Austin, Annabelle and my godson, Shaun.

Shaun is sad because Annabelle won't hug him.

Moments later, he can't get her off of him!

<3

 

[auntiehill]

That's a great shot!

 

[Amaris]

It's like a snapshot of pure energy!

 

[Lumi]

^ Thanks!

And that is exactly what she is. Endless energy.

 

[Methos]

M

 

[DAYoung]

Here I am with my daughter, and the Spanish-language edition of my first book.

 

[auntiehill]

^Awesome! She's a cutie, btw.

 

[DAYoung]

A very cute little MONSTER!