Happy Halloween

Tecolote Research, 2008

Who have you not been able to forgive?

I had a conversation with my brother the other day in which he expressed his anger and blame at my parents for the death of our youngest brother..... over 15 years ago.

According to my brother, despite my youngest brother's acceptance to Cal Poly SLO, my youngest brother wanted to remain close to home (and girlfriend) and attend the local city college. My parents wouldn't allow this and coerced him into attending Cal Poly SLO. The weekend before school began, my brother fell asleep behind the wheel and died on his way to the University.

I've never even imagined blaming my parents for my younger brother's death. It was an accident. My parents were doing what they believed was good for my younger brother - to attend a prominent University in hopes to prepare him for a purposeful career. I think it's a wrongful laying of blame to insist that our parents caused the death of our youngest brother.

I believe my brother needs to seek professional help as it's very unhealthy to harbor such anger ... for so long. I wonder if he is saying this as an excuse to harbor ill feelings towards my parents as a way to play the "victim".

Home sweet home

After a long week of unpacking, we have finally settled down in Santa Barbara. It was quite the mission and I hate downsizing as most of our possessions had to be given away to Goodwill or just thrown away.

It's good to get into a routine again. I find comfort in the daily grind of things. I might be getting too old for spontaneity...

I digress ..... salary. I have always been a bit uncomfortable talking about salary even to my family. I don't ask people how much they make and I find it rude if someone asks me... even my own family. My mom feels I'm being secretive but I feel it's one of those topics I just don't care to divulge.