A letter to my brother, Bob: I can´t remember a time I didn't love you! I can´t remember a time I didn't love being with you! I choose to remember you in your heyday: deep booming voice, a strut befitting the biggest star in Hollywood, a smile/hug/kiss on the cheek for any person you met who you knew, your ability to give solace to the inconsolable, your love of country and all children and your pride in being a Rotarian. I choose to remember you in happy vignettes: Picking me up at the airport, cooler with food and drinks at hand, as we traveled to the Cape to spend a week at Peg`s house. All the way there we told stories and laughed; Sitting in your breezeway on a warm summer night watching (what we KNEW were) UFOs in the sky; The many funny, extemporaneous speeches you gave (in your booming bass voice) where two or more people were gathered; Sitting in Fred´s barbershop while you had a haircut, trading quips with both of you; Going to the summer concerts in the park, listening to the music and enjoying sausage sandwiches from the Rotary chuck wagon; having dinner with you and Peg on the deck at her house; your pride at being a loyal Rotarian and your insistence I attend meetings with you whenever I was in town; your joy in building your new home; the pleasure you took in just being alive! ......and so many more .... Life changed following your carotid artery surgery when you began to show signs of dementia. I still visited as often as I could and enjoyed being with you and taking long rides with you and Peg all around Chittenango. We visited the Chittenango Falls, Lucky Moon farm, the goat farm, etc., etc. After you were placed in the nursing home, I knew your the number of your days were short.... And when I heard of the morphine, I know your days had turned to hours. I am so sorry that on 5/26/22, when I called, the individual who knew I was on the phone, hung up, preventing me from telling you "I love you" and "goodbye" one last time. I hope you knew it was me calling. In your honor, I have made a donation to the Chittenango Scholarship Fund to help a needy student. I am glad that I saw you recently! There is no need for me to come back for your funeral as you will not be there. You will live forever in my heart and my mind. I miss you! I will miss you until the end of my days on earth! Wherever you will be, perhaps you will see our sister, Joyce, who per-deceased us. There are those of us who loved and will also miss you: Your sister Eileen (Brian) Peg McCarthy (whom you loved and who loved you in return) Ak'ira (Tricia) A man you had raised from childhood and called you son) Nephews, nieces and grand- children: Christopher, Jacqui, Kathryn, Leslie, Randy, Terry, Jeffery, Chris, Joyce, Ak'ira jr, Na'shaun, Willie, Ka'nan....and me.... Dorothy-Jo

FFF