52 weeks of gratitude: Week 7

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February 19, 2018

"The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living."

52 Weeks of gratitude: Week 7

As I mentioned my brother Joe's Valentine birthday, with his death almost 15 years ago, a friend asked me to share my favorite story of him. This thoughtful question brought him to life in touching detail allowing me to focus more on his memory instead of his death, and I giggled as I recalled this moment we shared.

In our early twenties, around 1983, Joe decided to move to Los Angeles, California to attend a music school after fulfilling a deal with my parents to pay the other half if he saved for it.

When the time came to move, it was decided that I would travel with Joe and then after visiting with our aunt and cousins, fly home. With our AAA trip tic and a truck full of supplies, we said our goodbye's and set out on the four-day journey. Traversing busy cities and quiet desserts, as we shared music and conversation as only two siblings would.

After a long day of travel, we stopped at our first motel. Our strength confiscated, the way road trips do, we lazily made our way towards our room. In a flash of inspiration, Joe decided it would be easier if I went up the stairs and he threw the bags to me. A perfect plan for our tired minds, so I quickly climb the stairs and await the first bag.

As Joe uses all his strength to heave the bag to me, I collapsed on the walkway in a fit of laughter instead of reaching for the bag. Through giggles, I promise to do better, but I never did get better, I just kept giggling all the way to our room while Joe hauled the bags one at a time up the long staircase.

It was not until years later that Joe found the humor in my giggling fit that night, yet will always remain as one of my favorite memories of my brother Joe. A journey only we shared, in a moment that I am grateful to have been a part of.

If you are just joining, HERE is the first post on the journey