The light at the end of the tunnel or a train?

shelley1002 · November 2010

This will get long because I am excited and hopeful...

As I've mentioned before I have little to no contact with my brother due to his wife being a tad mentally unstable, hating my mother, and a whole lot of other things that have been said/done.

Back in July he called me out of the blue. End of July I lost contact again. I got an email from my mom this morning - he texted her. This is unusual because I am the first person he contacts when he does come back. They went back and forth for hours. Sounds like he and his wife have finally smartened up. He wants to make things right again after 10 years of on and off involvement with our family.

Here's a couple of the messages he sent:
A and I both know we are to blame. We were both greedy and didn't want to lose each other over family or lose family over each other.

We are and we are ready to make it right. We are not only hurting ourselves but each other and our kids don't even know their grandparents.

My dad threw me for a complete loop with this. Normally my dad tries to be the tough guy and holds grudges. Dad has been so hurt by all of this drama that he has said he wants nothing to do with my brother ever again then hides and cries. But this time my Dad suggested that my brother go on the annual Thanksgiving hunting trip (see QOTD below). He said that DH and 2 of his cousins would help him keep a level head.

I can't believe that my brother is coming back and finally making the effort to stay back. Not sure any of us can handle this much longer.

Please let this be light and not a train.

Thanks for 'listening' to me get out some of my excitement while I am trapped at work and get act on it.

SSM&JLM · November 2010

I hope it all works out.

Although I do think it's funny your dad invited him on the hunting trip, some people could take that the wrong way. Stick out tongue

Mitzzi23 · November 2010

Wow, that sounds promising. I hope it all works out, take baby steps. I know what it is like to lose touch with family, my father chose to stop talking with me 13 years ago after I ran away. Sometimes it takes people time to understand how jerky they were being.

shelley1002 · November 2010

SSM&JLM:

I hope it all works out.

Although I do think it's funny your dad invited him on the hunting trip, some people could take that the wrong way.

Lots of jokes have been made about taking exes 'upta camp'.

Mouth*ofthe*South · November 2010

That's great Shel!! I hope your family can start bonding again with him in it! So you'll have to entertain SIL while they are hunting? Better drink plenty of those Kahlua and milks

Pookums · November 2010

Oh Shelley I hope it works out what a wonderful Christmas present for your family all the way around. I hope it works out though it might be a lot of hard work and forgiveness I hope everyone can move forward in a happier direction.

Keep us posted!!!

jpfeifer · November 2010

That is great news. I'll be hoping for the best for you and I really like your light/tunnel/train analogy

shelley1002 · November 2010

Mouth*ofthe*South:
That's great Shel!! I hope your family can start bonding again with him in it! So you'll have to entertain SIL while they are hunting? Better drink plenty of those Kahlua and milks

No entertaining. They live about 20 minutes from my parents so she will most likely stay home with the 3 kids and possibly try to reconnect with part of her family as well.

brie&drew · November 2010

It sounds like a great start. I'm sure there will be lots more baby steps to come, and I've got my fingers crossed that this is the beginning of something wonderful for all of you!