Watching, Listening And Laughing ...

This is my cousin, Paul Brandriet, the oldest boy of 9 Siblings: Bev, Donna, Jeanette, Roger, Margie, Bryan, Dale, Doug and Russ. Paul passed away Thursday evening. He fought cancer for a long time and is the first sibling to pass. Our Fathers, both gone now too, are Brothers.

Whenever our family gathered, Paul would usually be off on the sidelines, minding his own business. It was hard not to gravitate towards him. It was like he had a secret ... a special formula for getting along in this huge family of ours. He watched. He listened. And when he decided to comment on whatever it was we were discussing, it was always something so adorably funny that you just wanted to pinch his little cheek and hope that some Paul would rub off on you.

When my sister was alive you would always find the two of them together, out of the loop and by themselves. It was always that way ... and whatever it was that Paul and Wendy talked about in those conversations that lasted through entire events, they laughed a lot.

I can believe the two of them are together right now, doing what they did best ... watching, listening and laughing. And they are both in great company.