It’s been a while since I last posted—over a month, in fact. May turned out to be a very difficult month for me and my family. On May 6, my older brother Ron passed away suddenly in his sleep. He lived out in Vancouver, and his passing was completely unexpected. I’ve gone back and forth on whether I wanted to share this here, since this space is usually dedicated to my travels and experiences with my mom, who has Alzheimer’s. But Ron was such a big part of our lives, and it feels right to acknowledge him here.
We held a beautiful celebration of life for Ron on May 18 at Mohawk Park. It was a warm and emotional gathering, with family and friends—many of whom we hadn’t seen in years—coming together to remember him. Some of Ron’s old friends were especially touched that my mom recognized them. Her long-term memory is still quite strong, which explains that small but meaningful moment. Sadly, she doesn’t remember that Ron has passed. Each time it comes up, we have to tell her again, and that’s honestly the hardest part of all of this.
Ron hadn’t been able to visit home in the past few years due to COVID and some health issues, but whenever he did, we always made sure to set aside a full day just for the two of us. I’ll miss those days deeply—our long chats, the laughter, the video calls, and the inside jokes we shared.
Be at peace, Ron. I miss you more than words can say.