My big brother, Tom, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away this past week. He was at the dentist to have a crown placed, laughing and joking with the staff and wife and 2 grand-kids. The dentist leaned the chair back to begin the procedure, and he died. It was truly that sudden. The staff, and then the EMTs worked for half an hour trying to revive him, and then continued at the hospital, but he was gone. Initial report says heart attack. My brother had no known health issues. He just turned 69. He had been complaining about stomach issues the past few weeks, saying he felt like he had eaten too much. His dear wife begged him to go to the Dr. He was one of those guys that never went to the Dr. He finally called and made an appointment, but it was going to be a month for him to get in.

He was buried yesterday with his wife, 11 children, (blended family after his first wife was killed in a tragic accident, leaving him with 6 children, 10 months to 10 yrs old to raise alone) and 41 grandchildren all together for the first time in 16 yrs. It was in Utah so I was not able to go. A few of the children had not spoken to Tom in several years due to whatever minor grievance they were holding on to. You can't raise 11 children and not have a few get their noses out of joint. It saddens me that it took his death for them to get over it and come to see him when it was too late. He loved his family without limits. He embraced his 7 step-kids like his own as his wife embraced his 6. It was a beautiful love story between the 2 of them.

My reason for sharing this is that we never know how long we have with the people we love. I haven't seen my brother in many years, but we talk on the phone or through messages and I will miss that terribly. He nic-named me "Pookie" when I was born. He was 9 yrs older then me so I was "his" baby. My mom used to tell me how he carried me everywhere. I wish I could have one more silly goofy conversation with him.

Value the time you have with your loved ones. They can be gone in a blink of an eye.