A year ago my brother and sister and I met in North Carolina to bury our
mother.  Then we kind of ran around town, checked out things we used to like
to do, brother got in some golf.  Wife went shopping.  Sister and I and our
guys drove over to Lake Lure and back.  We all met back a ,in my nephews
room for a family tradition.  Mom never missed the derby or the Preakness or
the Belmont.  So three days a year we have racing in out blood.

Got settled in with beer and snacks, caught up on the horses and the odds
and settled in to watch the race.  My horse won.

Then Eight of us went out to dinner,  Brothers side was leaving predawn to
go home.   That was the last thing I ever did with him.  I was afraid I
wouldn't enjoy the race today.

No problem.  I thought of my brother and how much fun we had and I'm glad if
there had to be a last memory it is something I've always enjoyed - a mice
time to think about him.

He fell ill in July and died in September so I didn't get to see him again
after that.  I even had a mini meltdown the following day when he left.
Felt deep down in that place where you know, that I would never see him
again//

Jo