My brothers are all Veterans. And they are all older than me. I am the youngest now. And they make me laugh. And I got to thinking about how different us old folks handle troubles and tribulations compared to the younger people. We laugh at...and about...things that would make them cry.
So I just got off the phone with my brother Johnny (Navy) who turns 80 this August. He is going blind from Macular Degeneration. He lost his Driver's License last year. And now he can barely see at all.
So he had me on the floor with how he is handling it.
"Kev, I have to get real close to see someone's face. I mean real close like a few inches. So now when I grab my wife's boobs...I am just trying to find the front."
I rolled.
But he didn't stop there.
"I am a much nicer and kinder husband now too. Because if I want to go anywhere I have to keep her happy. Otherwise she just takes the car and goes."
I rolled again.
I told him how bad I felt for him... and there was no self pity.
"Hey Kev, I knew it was coming. Mom went blind from it at 72...I lasted until 79. So I was lucky. There isn't any thing you can do about it. And I can still hear and walk...so it's all okay. "
How many young kids would feel that way...in his position...I wonder.
My brothers made me laugh when we were kids.
And they still do.