304: in his own way

 

thank you for all of the love you have been sending. i feel it.

You know me- I'm open and don't usually shy away from sharing the hard stuff. I do hesitate to tell you  this, just because it's so raw and harsh. But it will be in the paper in the next day or so anyways, and more people will read it there than they will in this post.

So (with my father's blessing) I am just going to say it :

Thursday night, my brother Michael killed himself.

He didn't want us to dance around it, so we aren't.

This is the first line of his obituary, which we finalized last night:

Michael Averinos left this life in his own way on February 19, 2009.

 

keep sending the love.

xo, m

Comments

[Dionysia]

Sad news... sending sorry words from"Down-Under"

[michelle]

My heart breaks for all of you. Sending prayers our way.

[Tess]

I'm incredibly sorry. I know your pain. My brother "left in his own way" 6 years ago. It still hurts.

My other brother and his new wife just welcomed a brand new baby girl. She arrived on the birthday of my late brother. His way of saying hello? The pain (hurt, rage, etc...) begins to ease with time.

[minnie]

I am so so sorry to hear about your loss, I just checked in for the first time in a little while, so I'm late in reading it. Losing family is never easy. I lost my Mom in 2007, and my Dad in 2008, so I am familiar with how hard it can be. I can't however, imagine how it must feel to lose a sibling. If it is okay, I'll share a story that my Aunt told me when I was little. I had asked her if she was sad when her brother died. (My uncle drowned at Boyscout Camp when he was only 13.) She told me that she missed him a lot, but a friend of my Grandmother had told her that she would see him someday. She told my Aunt to remember all of the times that they had raced each other to the front porch of the house all the while saying "Bet I get home first". She told my Aunt that my Uncle Gayle had just made it home first, and that eventually, when her race was done she would meet him there.

That story brings tears to my eyes, but puts a beautiful thought to something so tragic.

And just to give you a giggle, my aunt (who was only seven at the time) replied to this lady: "I know--I'm always the rotten egg...:)

[Sayra]

My cousin did the same three years ago. He was schizophrenic and had demons on his tail. I somewhat know how you feel.

[magikquilter]

melissa am so sorry...i read about it today after you mentioned michael would have been 40...on your recent blog post.


this must be a very hard week for you all

prayers and kindest of thoughts to you and your family

kathleen
xx

[laura]

"left this life in his own way" is a most appropriate way to describe the act. beautiful. and with dignity, I will remember that forever.

[Cary]

While scrolling through your blog enjoying your Bronte obsession I came to the post about the anniversary of your brother's suicide. My heart goes out to you and your family.
I feel the need to let you know I have a friend who did the same thing last November. I've made a rubber band ball in his honor (he made several himself) and I pray for his family and remember him when I see it and now I will include you and yours.

[waqar]

Nice work keep it up and you are a good source of information...kindly keep us up to date!!!!