From a blogger to a journo

Michael I didn’t know you, but your blog and your passing touched me:

March 23, 1962-January 15, 2008

My brother Michael passed away on January 15, surrounded by his family. Though his decline after Thanksgiving was precipitous, his life spark glowed until his final moment. He continued to work until Christmas eve. Christmas day, which he spent with my husband, myself, and my husband’s family, was probably his last good day. We worked with him on making all sorts of necessary arrangements, including finding a good home for his two cats. One of the most harrowing days was December 31, when we struggled and finally succeeded in getting him a prescription for the painkiller he needed. Beginning on January 1 until the end, we were with him virtually 24 hours a day. On January 2, with immense effort, he went to the office of the newspaper where he had worked these past nine years. Confined to a wheelchair, he said goodbye to his awed colleagues. He had told us he couldn’t just disappear without a word. We got him home hospice care in his apartment on January 3rd. That was the day Michael wrote the poem “Fatigue” and posted it to his blog. (READ MORE)

I wasn’t going to blog this week – it’ s nearly midnight in the wilds of Victoria – but when a family member takes the time to log on to a blog, to share with the social network the passing of a member, it’s important to pay homage. Michael, you will be missed .