I received some bad news today
My ex-husband's youngest brother died yesterday. He was 45 years old. He was a raging alcoholic. He lost his wife, his job and his home due to his alcoholism and had been living with his mother. I don't know the exact cause of death, but I can venture to guess that it was alcohol related.
When we were kids I used to have the biggest crush on him. He was one year younger than me. We used to laugh that I grew up and married his older brother. He gave me my very first exposure to what it's like living with an alcoholic in the family. I remember the middle of the night phone calls from his mother who was screaming at my (ex)husband because his brother came home drunk again. I remember his brothers bailing him out of yet another alcohol related car wreck. I remember the Christmas he ruined because he threatened to commit suicide and ended up in the hospital. My ex and I got into several fights because of their enabling behavior. They were very good at covering for BIL and his behavior.
What a shame. What a waste.