thartley
Veteran
Its an awful thing to admit, but over the years, I've lost contact (for various reasons) with people who were once all the family I had in the world. They took me in about 25 yrs ago and were who I considered family even more than my own. Life happens (poor excuse), and sometimes a death. And when its a death, seeing these same people...well, there is a muteness to conversations. Dont know if that even makes sense. It just seemed easier to not see them, than to stay in touch and re-live certain things all the time.
Anyhoo, I go incognito fairly well when I want to. But I was tracked down this weekend to be told of another sad passing. "Uncle" Larry, who was my brother-in-law at one time, fell after getting out of bed last week, hit his head, went into a coma, and died. I find this out from my ex-mother-in-law, who has incidentally, had three strokes in the last year and cannot talk very well these days. Both of these things have been a shock to my system. As long as I was not in contact with them, then in my mind, eveything was still as it was, family intact.
I had breakfast with the mother-in-law yesterday, and she hugged me as if I was 17 yrs old again, smiled like it was yesterday, and said she loved me.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if there are people who were near and dear to you in the past, but something keeps you from that place, set it aside and stay in touch. In my mind, there's a snapshot version of that part of my family and life from many years ago, and it can hurt like hell when reality pays a visit. Their arms have been open all these years, and I chose to go the other way.
I suck.
Anyhoo, I go incognito fairly well when I want to. But I was tracked down this weekend to be told of another sad passing. "Uncle" Larry, who was my brother-in-law at one time, fell after getting out of bed last week, hit his head, went into a coma, and died. I find this out from my ex-mother-in-law, who has incidentally, had three strokes in the last year and cannot talk very well these days. Both of these things have been a shock to my system. As long as I was not in contact with them, then in my mind, eveything was still as it was, family intact.
I had breakfast with the mother-in-law yesterday, and she hugged me as if I was 17 yrs old again, smiled like it was yesterday, and said she loved me.
I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if there are people who were near and dear to you in the past, but something keeps you from that place, set it aside and stay in touch. In my mind, there's a snapshot version of that part of my family and life from many years ago, and it can hurt like hell when reality pays a visit. Their arms have been open all these years, and I chose to go the other way.
I suck.
