Recently someone on the forum shared their grief about losing all their family of origin, and today I came across this article that I thought was relatable.
"I'm the last surviving member of my family. It's a different grief than I've ever known" CBC
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/i-m-the-last-surviving-member-of-my-family-it-s-a-different-grief-than-i-ve-ever-known-1.6830092
I unexpectedly lost my last brother (Of 3) this year. A very lonely feeling knowing I was brother-less. I always felt so rich with 3 brothers. I don’t think I had ever considered the possibility as he was younger than myself. The baby of the family.
Now I have just my older sister left and while she has a large family of her own, I know she feels his loss as well.
At my last family reunion, (pre covid)my sister and I were asked to be seated on the front row for the ritual photo of the group. We two along with our last uncle and aunt (who have since passed). My yb was standing behind us, not quiet old enough to be on the front row I suppose. A senior citizen himself but still the baby of our original family of 5. Still considered young. Here on the forum, someone 65 is always on the younger side, but our parents and their siblings lived long lives into their 90s, one to 104. Surely he was meant to have another 30 years. Such a shock to lose him so young. Time for coffee.