I haven’t talked much of my brother Tom in a while, because his situation in life (mental illness & addictions) has been static because he’s in prison.  But, I want to make it clear that he is my brother – I love him, no matter what.  I certainly don’t care for some of the things he’s done…but, that’s not my business.  My job is to support him in sobriety and not be an enabler when he’s in the throws of his addictions. 

I also have his burial plot taken care of.  Sad, but true.

My youngest brother mentioned that Tom should be getting out of prison in October.  I don’t know where he’ll go or what he’ll do – but, it made me do a little search to find out *exactly* what he was in for (this time).  He’s spent more of his adult life in prison than out of prison – and even when he was out, his sobriety has never lasted more than a few days (hours?). 

Wow, what can a sister say when she sees his inmate record online, and sees what her brother looked like from 2004 until today?  He’ll be 43 in October….a couple years younger than I am.  He’s put himself through a hard life….as is evident by these photo lineups:

2004

2005

2007

2008