Huh. So That's It Then?

Coastie Brother & I had a childhood that was better than some and worse than others. The people our parents married after their divorce made our lives problematic. No matter which house, egg shells were walked on.

We were talking one day. Both of us have a couple of pleasant memories of our dad's 2nd wife. Neither of us could come up with one for our mom's 2nd husband.

Then I realized one. He would leave. For months at a time. That month or months were peaceful to me. I'm sure my mom hated them. But my brother & I? Ah. We could breath.

Once my brother graduated (he is two years younger), that man left for good. I never saw him again. Of course, my mom still had contact with him because they share a son. I won't get into specifics of that because it's not my story.

However, during those brief contacts, that man would casually mention something about my life or my brother's. Creeped me out. I never lived in a state of fear, but, every now & again, a niggling would hit me.

For years now, he's been dying from one thing or another. When he would feel the end is near, he'd give my mom a call. The last phone call was in August of 2006.

A week ago, my mom found out that he passed away almost two years ago.

That part of my life is officially over.