Bereavement

applegrove

(123,112 posts) Sat Jul 17, 2021, 12:17 AM Jul 2021

Here is a cairn my brother made for my older brother who passed in late

April. Because my late brother lived in Japan for 30 years and met the love of his life there, the cairn is not done in stacked stones as the scots would do, or in the shape of a person as with an inuksuk of high arctic peoples in Canada would do. It is done with the stones separated, and with some thought the relationship between them, and with the negative space all part of the beauty. This is on an island in a lake in Quebec where we grew up. Thank you to the cousins who made it happen.

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Here is a cairn my brother made for my older brother who passed in late (Original Post) applegrove Jul 2021 OP

I think it is beautiful. Blue Dawn Jul 2021 #1

Thank you. He was a big presence in our lives despite the fact he lived applegrove Jul 2021 #2

What you just wrote is such a loving tribute of your brother. Blue Dawn Jul 2021 #3

This is beautiful. calimary Jul 2021 #4

My younger brother is very creative. It is perfect. Took him an hour and a half applegrove Jul 2021 #9

Lovely tribute. Condolences on the loss of your brother. littlemissmartypants Jul 2021 #5

Oh yes. He was entertaining and we have lots of stories to share with applegrove Jul 2021 #6

This is beautiful, as are babylonsister Jul 2021 #7

Yes. He is always beside me. Thank you. applegrove Jul 2021 #8

Blue Dawn

(953 posts)

1. I think it is beautiful.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Sat Jul 17, 2021, 12:27 AM

Jul 2021

It appears as if the large rock in the foreground is floating! I have no idea how your brother managed to do that. I like the design. I totally get the use of negative space, too.

I am so glad that you shared this. I am having a hard time sleeping tonight and came to DO to catch up on things, so it was really nice reading your post and seeing your photo. I find it very serene and peaceful. Thank you.

And please let me offer my condolences on the loss of your older brother.

applegrove

(123,112 posts)

2. Thank you. He was a big presence in our lives despite the fact he lived

Reply to Blue Dawn (Reply #1)

Sat Jul 17, 2021, 12:57 AM

Jul 2021

far away. I thnk of him every day. So many times a week I think "oh i'll share this with him .. then realize I can't". He was sentimental. He loved nature. He was a great character. He loved and was loved. He was honest and fought for social justice for others.

Blue Dawn

(953 posts)

3. What you just wrote is such a loving tribute of your brother.

Reply to applegrove (Reply #2)

Sat Jul 17, 2021, 01:11 AM

Jul 2021

I would be honored if one of my siblings would say something similar about me. He must have been very special.

I totally understand what you mean about thinking you can't wait to share something with him and then getting hit with the realization that he is gone. It takes time for that loss to become real. I have been there, too.

Maybe you could write a post later with some memorable stories about him so that we can enjoy learning more about him? I, for one, would enjoy that.

I think the most wonderful description you wrote was, " He loved and was loved. " To me, that sums up a life well-lived. I aspire to that end myself.

Again, thank you for sharing. He sounds like a very special man.

calimary

(84,310 posts)

4. This is beautiful.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Sat Jul 17, 2021, 01:44 AM

Jul 2021

And the large “flat” rock in the foreground DOES look like it’s floating!

What a lovely and touching tribute.

applegrove

(123,112 posts)

9. My younger brother is very creative. It is perfect. Took him an hour and a half

Reply to calimary (Reply #4)

Sat Jul 17, 2021, 10:10 AM

Jul 2021

to get the placement just right.

littlemissmartypants

(25,483 posts)

5. Lovely tribute. Condolences on the loss of your brother.

Reply to applegrove (Original post)

Sat Jul 17, 2021, 02:37 AM

Jul 2021

I hope you find comfort in the happy memories he left behind. ❤

applegrove

(123,112 posts)

6. Oh yes. He was entertaining and we have lots of stories to share with

Reply to littlemissmartypants (Reply #5)

Sat Jul 17, 2021, 02:44 AM

Jul 2021

each other. We are going through his personal things and he was very sentimental. He kept everything from the social justice projects to newspaper articles that he found salient. We found a notebook he must have done when he was 8 or 10 where he designed a hotel. He was interested in so many things and people. He had such great friends. My parents wrote him a lot. So much to yet learn about the old softy.