I’m 54 and my brother is 2 years older. I always imagined that we would grow up to be really close, many years ago both our marriages ended within days of each other and I had visions of us holidaying together with our children.
Obviously that didn’t happen.
My brother is single and has been for 15 years, he doesn’t have much contact with anyone, has only just started to speak to our Dad after years of not talking to him. ( we didn’t have a great childhood, mostly Dads fault ) he hardly speaks to his son who is working in Australia with my 2 sons for nearly 2 years. Brother rents a bed sit about 200 miles from me.
A few years ago we were left quite a lot of money when our uncle died. I bought a house and my brother gambled his away. That really upset me as my uncle worked hard all his life and I feel that my brother just wasted his inheritance. But I know at the end of the day it was up to him.
Anyway, my brother has been furloughed since March, doesn’t see anyone so I’ve made a point of calling him every week for a chat. Normally it can be 3/4 months between calls, I always call him. My brother isn’t on the internet, doesn’t have a smart phone and hasn’t a tv, when I speak to him he tells me how bored he is during lockdown. Plus since March he has been drinking a bottle of vodka every day and has been in hospital with liver problems etc...
After every call I tell myself not to call him again, he never asked how I am, never asked about his niece, nephews, great nieces etc... He also thinks I’m having a go at him when I suggest things he can do to occupy his mind which hopefully will stop him drinking. Both our parents were/are alcoholics, Mum died at 38 of liver failure, who he blames for his drinking.
Sorry this is going on a bit, just wanted to explain things.
Anyway, do you think I should cut back on the phones calls, I do try and then feel bad as I know he doesn’t talk to many people and it can be a lonely place at times. I know he will never call as he doesn’t call any family members. x
Good Morning Thursday Maundy Thursday 28th March 2024