Though he died at 33, my older brother (and hero) MiddleFingerMomTom led a charmed life.

[MiddleFingerMom]

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.
.
He went to Michigan State University and when they went to the Rose Bowl (in the 60's?), he
scored a ticket. The family flew him out there to stay with relatives nearby while waiting for
the game.
.
On New Year's Eve, they took him on a drive into the mountains to admire the snow-covered
regions. While up there, a blizzard moved in and stranded hundreds, if not thousands on the
roads. At one point, their tire chains wrapped around their rear axle and he had to release
them, while wearing his white dress shirt -- getting grease all over his sleeves (which he
rolled up).
.
There was no time to get him back to their house where his ticket was, but they put him on
a little local flight to Pasadena JUST so he could be near where his team was playing for a
little moral support and connectivity.
.
While on the flight, he got into a conversation with the well-off businessman sitting next
to him. MiddleFingerMomTom told his frustrating story and it turned out the businessman
was going to the Rose Bowl and had planned on taking his college-aged son, who had
been unable to get home because of the blizzard.
.
He offered, and MiddleFingerMomTom accepted... and MFMT accompanied him to the
Rose Bowl free of charge.
.
.
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His life was like that a LOT.
.
.
.
I still miss him terribly.
.
.
.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear MiddleFingerMom...

Ah, sweetie, I hear the loss in your words...

I'm so sorry. Life is so unfair sometimes...

[polly7]

2. I'm so sorry MFM.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

3. I lost my big brother when he was only 40.

I know what you're saying.

[a kennedy]

4. I lost my favorite brother, out of four, in 1980.....he was 33, had melanoma cancer.....

Then I lost my only sister two years ago, she was 57, she had melanoma cancer too. I miss them both so much.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. I'm sorry MFM. Your family seems to be a very special one since there were two very

impressive people that came from it.

[HappyMe]

6. I'm sorry.

[siligut]

7. I am thinking that you two are somewhat alike

Sorry you lost him so young.

[TuxedoKat]

8. What a nice story

Your brother sounds like he was a great guy. I lost a brother (5) when I was six. I still miss my brother too. (((HUGS)))

[pinboy3niner]

9. Nice that Tom got in. I was at that game with a free ticket, too.

It was 1966, and Michigan State was playing UCLA. I was editor of my HS newspaper and had to write a story on the game for a journalism scholarship competition sponsored by the L.A. Herald-Examiner.

I had to carry my portable typewriter up to the press box to cover the game, and watched as UCLA beat Michigan State, 14-12. I had never written a sports story before, but I won a $100 scholarship, lol.

So I guess Tom and I watched the game together, there at the Rose Bowl in 1966.

I'm sorry you lost him, MFM.

[MiddleFingerMom]

10. Wow! What a wonderful way to bring another little piece of MFMT's past back into my present.

.
.
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And what a great closing line. "So I guess Tom and I watched the game together, there at the Rose Bowl in 1966."
.
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You just brought a true little tear to the corner of my eye and a GREAT BIG smile to my whole face... a smile that
may be a while in disappearing.
.
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Thank you.
.
.
.

[pinboy3niner]

12. Thank you, MFM, for that connection

Some people I knew probably attended that game, but I don't know of any who did. Thanks to you, I now know that the only other person I'm aware of in the whole world who was there with me...was your brother, Tom.

Tom probably enjoyed a good time with his benefactor, even while wincing at his team's loss. While in the press box I was sweating heavily to crank out a sports story (a big deal, as I was strictly hard news and features). Seems like he game had a downside for both of us .

Discovering, all these years after the fact, that the brother you lost and I shared that experience together all those years ago really does mean something.

And you're right--that's probably one of the best lines I've ever written.

Pardon me, I think I have something in my eye...

[Lady Freedom Returns]

11. Memories.

They can make you smile.
They can make you frown.
They can lift you up.
They can drop you down.
But always cherish them.

[In_The_Wind]

13. The world would be a better place if more people were like your brother.

I'm sorry for your loss MFM.