I woke up yesterday morning and prayed. And then I received a phone call. I thought it was my sister as her number came up and I thought she must be calling to give me an update on my brother who was in the hospital and had finally made it from the E.R., to ICU, to being brought back from a CODE BLUE, to the STEP DOWN ICU unit and was doing so good this week. We just KNEW he was coming home soon. But when I answered the phone, it was not my sister’s voice. It was a nurse asking me if I was her sister and I said yes but, I heard my sister screaming in the background. I knew then my brother had passed or transitioned into what we call glory.

The nurse gave me the news. I then had to call my parents and other siblings, my daughter. It was rougher than I thought as we all gathered at the hospital. He was still so very warm and just looked as if he was sleeping and sleeping good. So peaceful. But the emotions that flooded the room was so mixed. One minute we were sobbing our eyes and heart out. The next minute we were laughing at memories. The next minute we were back in shock.

The thing is, my oldest brother passed away on February 28th four years ago, and now this brother on March 1st. March has always been a month of celebration for me. It’s my birthday month and I enjoy the entire month. And to many people’s surprise, it will continue to be a month of celebration for me. I now celebrate my life, the life of my brother Toney, and now the life of my brother Bobby during this month. They were BOTH FULL OF LIFE, LAUGHTER, JOKES, PRANKS, LOVE AND ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS BROTHERS SHOULD BE!

~Nikki