My brother-in-law died completely unexpectedly early Friday morning.
He was 59 (60th birthday at the end of this month) and in good health, other than high cholesterol, which he took medicine for. They’re doing an autopsy, but expect it to indicate that it was a heart attack.
He and my sister had just celebrated their 39th (yes, 39th) wedding anniversary – he was 21, and she was 19, when they got married, and had one of the best marriages it has been my privilege to watch close up: A true partnership of loving equals.
I’ve known – sorry, I had – known him since I was 12, and was far closer to him than I was – am – to my biological brother.
He was a master carpenter who loved motorcycles, though my sister made him keep the number at no more than 4. (Currently 3 of his beloved BMWs and a Norton.) My sister is an English teacher/“diversity coordinator” at the small Quaker boarding school where they met back in the '60s.
She’s a wreck – we’re all just freaking nuts right now.
I spent all day yesterday and last night with her, but had to come home to do some work on a monthly freelance gig of mine, which, goddammit to hell, happens to fall this weekend. I’ll be heading out there again tomorrow after I mop that up.
Anyway, I’m not going to be around for a few days, so stern moddy look y’all behave yourselves – and if there’s a thread I’m participating in, or a new crossword question popping up that cries out for my expertise, or whatever – I’ll be back in a couple of days.
In the meantime – call up someone you love, who you don’t always remember to say “I love you” to – and tell them how much they mean to you.
