Thursday, August 12, 2010

Rocky Mountain High

So, for a little of my personal history:
       My father, Eugene King, "sired 3 sons from 3 different women". Those were his own words to me once when he was in a semi drunken state...which was often as I recall. My Dad was an alcoholic for as long as I can remember, his breath nearly always with a sickly alcohol/sour smell to it. He died  a guilt ridden, tormented man in 1978 (at 62 yrs.) of congestive heart failure brought on by years and years of heavy drinking, chain smoking and being overweight.
      Nonetheless, I miss him terribly. I've wanted to say so many things to him....like: "I love you Dad, no matter what you've done, because I know you loved us all unconditionally and did the best you could do with the situation you had"
     He left behind a bitter wife...my mother Ruby who died nearly 2 yrs ago at 88, my older half brother Donovan, myself, my sister Alexis and his then 9 year old son Darryll...my half brother from his mistress Dorothy...and who incidentally has spent the remainder of her life as a hard drinker and heartbroken over his death. We've all paid a heavy price with our own mental health and relationships.....brought on in some way from those circumstances he created.
Darryll and wife Michelle
     When Mom died, I contacted Darryll to inform him of matters from Dad's estate. We started an email exchange which culminated this summer in a reunion (as I hadn't seen him since he was 4). We had a wonderful time taking a motorcycle trip through our magnificent national parks and ended the trip with an overnight stop at brother Don's.... to spend an unforgettable evening individually recalling memories of our father and sharing a unique bond.....as only 3 half brothers could have.
      As my beloved daughter Carmen commented: "Closure somehow, uh?" Yes, Carmen, closure for we 3 boys at least.






Bros