make it calm

There were some good conversations with siblings, and a cousin over the past 24 hours. I ended up being the one to tell my youngest brother the bad news. He is very much like his Grandfather, so I try and be gentle with him. I felt awful that I had to ruin his Friday. My brother Tom is much like our Grandfather's brother Uncle Ange. My brothers are tender-hearted so the death has hit them hard. My Mom promised them she wouldn't die for a good long time.

I am making sure my youngest brother can fly down for the funeral, since I can't. I did tell him, "all I ask is that you keep any fist-fights from happening." These are Italians after all, and there is a good long history of people getting a little crazy at family occasions.