The First Of My Parents To Pass - By Eddie Willers

So, got an e-mail from my older 1/2 brother early this morning - the old man had passed away in hospital, eight days after his 80th birthday.

I hadn't spoken to the old man in almost 20 years - I cut him (and 1/2 brother) off right before I got married. I didn't see him as a good role model. I was from his 2nd marriage and he was to marry/divorce twice more after he and my mom split, 41 years ago.

Heedless of social disapprobation of the times, he knocked-up my mom while he was still married to his first wife. But he followed the script enforced at that time and eventually married mom when I was two years old. However, he had a fondness for drink - although it never affected his work - and only contributed minimally to household expenses, despite earning very good coin for the time, working for the State power company. In this way, although I don't condone marriage-slavery, he did not do the best for his sons.

My determination to not 'be like my father' (in terms of his negatives, as described to me by my mom (a biased source)) led me to over-compensate in my marriage and so lead to my divorce.

Apologies for rambling, brothers, but I had to write this shit out.