a death in the family

Yesterday, as I was sitting in my mother's overheated room, looking out over impossible piles of snow, a call came thru from Karen, in Portland.

She had just heard that my Uncle, who lived in Hawaii for many years, had died. This was mom's first cousin, with whom she had a lifelong relationship. He was a truly remarkable fellow, and here's his obit from the Honolulu Advertiser.

I corresponded with him irregularly over the years, and visited with him whenever we went to Hawaii. We knew he was declining and sinking fast, but it still came as a shock. These things always do.