The call came last night around 12:30 -- Although Bruce was recovering from the stroke, he had a heart attck and could not be revived. This morning I need to tell my Mother.
I called Bruce my adpted brother - this is why.
Bruce is my "adopted brother" because our two families were trhown together in tradedy the moment I was born. We lived next door all through our childhood, with all the normal memories of Christmas, hunting Easter eggs, roller skates, cars etc.
Bruce's older brother died when I was one, his younger brother was hospilized so that his middle brother and I were taken care of by my Mother. It was middle brother who called me last night. When his father died, my Mother was there for his mother. When my father died, it was his mother who took care of my mother. When we went to college I was in the emergency room with his son, when his daughter was born. (Playground accident for the son). His childer were my godchildren, and I was their Aunt. I was the one he called to tell the family his son died in an auto accident. When younger brother was tragically and permanently injured, Bruce called me to rush to the emergency room.
Sam and I will be leaving for Jax. tomorrow, I think.
I spoke with my niece last night, he had been doing well. This will not be easy.
