About 3 years ago, I spent a nice long summer up in my old stompin' grounds (Del Norte County) and enjoyed visiting with my baby brother and sister. 

 I'm so thankful that we got this photograph at that time, because I had no idea my life would change so dramatically, preventing my planned trips to the Pacific NW each summer. 

I also did not ever suspect that I would lose a sibling at such an early age.  

My baby brother, my only full blood brother died suddenly on February 13, 2014.  He was only 54.  He died just a few steps away from where we took this photograph, out in his garden, the place he loved more than anywhere else on earth.  

What do you say when your baby brother dies?  Ouch?  That hurts?  Why him?  

I have said all of those things and worse.  I've felt angry, sad, hurt, confused, and all manner of emotions.  I have cried what feels like a freakin' river of hot salty tears, often while on the telephone with my baby sister who is also hurting from this loss.

Now, since we've lost both parents and our only brother, my sister and I only have each other and our nuclear families.  She has her dog and her horses ... I have my children and my cats.  We each have a living husband and hope that they remain in the land of the living for many years to come.

So I had almost decided to not renew this url for CrescentCityGal Dot Com since what I originally bought it for has long since become an impossible dream.  

Still ... I could not let it go so quickly after the loss of my brother.  So I renewed it for another year.  Whether I work on it or let it sit idle is anybody's guess at this point.

Only one thing is certain, and that's that there are only two of us left.  Really, it's my sister who deserves the title of the Crescent City Gal since she's the one who never left.  I am the one with gypsy feet and roots in Texas.  But now there are just us two.

Rest In Peace, Brother Robert.  You left us way too soon.  I miss you.