40 years

This is the 40th anniversary of my brother’s death. He was 17 when he drove off the road on his way home from his girlfriend’s house at 11:42 pm on August 26, 1983. He was alone so no one really knows what happened; we know the exact time because the dashboard clock shattered when his car hit a tree. I was 12 years old at the time of his death so my memories of his very short life all feel a bit stilted. Trying to find some light in the sadness, we decided to go visit one of our kids in New Jersey. We’re going to go to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden to remember my brother’s love of roses and I made a playlist with his favorite songs— lots of Rush, Loverboy, and The Tubes. And I’m going to hug my kid extra tight. May I suggest you do the same if you have the chance?