I've seen if first hand, probably the only significant loss I've ever felt in my life, my Uncle Bob, my Dad's brother. My parents are immigrants, I've never really known my grandparents, Aunts/Uncles or any relatives for that matter.
My Dad's told me the story, his older brother Bob emigrated to Canada before my Dad came over, Bob was always losing jobs, my Dad was always bailing him out. He eventually lost his wife and daughter, and by the early 70's he ended up on skid row in Detroit, I remember the call from the police in the middle of the night asking my Dad to come identify the body.
I have nothing but fond memories of the man, he was always so nice to us. He tried repeatedly to get sober-AA-he could never pull it off.
Sometimes I still have a few flashes of anger about my ex but for the most part I just feel
terrible about it. Alcoholism/addiction are truly awful things. Just awful.
