Wishigan

[madamesilverspurs]

MSNBC just had a brief bit about the ongoing capitol rally in Michigan. I was hoping against hope to see my younger brother in that crowd, he lives not far from Lansing.

He's eminently qualified to be among those protesting, but he's chosen to cast his lot with the other side. He retired from the military, having re-enlisted when he was fired from a very good job when the company's insurance carrier refused to cover his child with cerebral palsy; yet he supports those who endeavor to undermine 'Obamacare'. His current job is a considerable commute from his home and, after a couple of years of looking for work, he found the job that exists (or not) at the whim of management. He's also an ordained minister who ardently campaigns against abortion; he listens only to theologians on the matter, not doctors and certainly not women who have been raped or suffer traumatic medical problems. He was absolute in his support of McCain's bid for the presidency, his current support goes to Huckabee. It goes without saying that Fox is his only source of broadcast 'news', the rest comes from a series of rightwing blogs.

It hurts. Especially since I remember so clearly when he was born, that I got to help take care of him; I was just old enough to enjoy rocking him and feeding him, then playing with him as he grew. He was a gentle kid, less prone to sports than to helping the neighbor lady carry in her groceries. The gentleness is now reserved for his son, and I'm glad it's there for him. But the rest of his family wonders when it happened that we became not-quite-good-enough.

I miss him. The hope still lives that one day I'll get a letter in my snail mail, the kind of letter he used to send when he traveled with the Navy. Or maybe one day the phone will ring and he'll say "I love you, can we talk?"

Meanwhile, I'll keep looking closely at the pictures of the Lansing protest. Hope does, indeed, spring eternal.


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[classof56]

1. My heart goes out to you.

I was estranged from my younger brother for over 20 years (his choice--never could quite figure why). I never wished him ill, and finally came to the place of acceptance. Had always thought perhaps we would reconcile some day, but a year-and-a-half ago he passed away. I learned this by happening upon his online obituary in his town's newspaper. I ended up settling his estate, the last thing he'd ever have wanted, and to this day I struggle with a bunch of mixed feelings I can barely articulate. I do hope things go better for you and that your brother mends the rift. Fractured families are painful indeed--even in dysfunctional ones like mine was.

Blessings.