It had been 16 years since I had seen my older brother in person. Isn’t that crazy? How does that happen? Well, to be honest, it is easy to say things such as “life gets in the way”; or “time just slips away from us”.

For me it was he lives in the midsouth and I am out here in California. But his health has been on a massive decline the last several months and we decided it was time to finally meet up again. As luck would have it, his T-shirt business was scheduled for a show in the Bay Area. Following his show, my wife and kids and I met up with him in San Jose. It was the first time my family had met him and his wife. For my brother and I, it was like we did not miss a beat over the last decade and a half. We ate dinner, we talked, we laughed and we embraced.

Turning the clock back to 2011, we lived together in Tennessee. It was a good time. We used to go to the lake, we would go bowling, shoot pool, rent movies (yes, rent movies. Remember this was 2011 and the video stores in Tennessee were still open). I remember on Fourth of July we had a great time. My mom was with us and she enjoyed the fireworks (a reminder, these were fireworks that were very different than the fireworks here in California).

My kids really took to my older brother. They thought he was very funny. He gave them quarters for the gumball machines. He also gave us shirts. It was an amazing visit and long overdue, to say the least. I hope I can see him again. I know I will make more of an effort to see him and my other brothers for that matter.

Talking on the phone, texting and social media is fine but to sit down with someone in person, no matter how long it has been, is peaceful and unforgettable.

Dennis D. Cruz is a staff reporter for The Oakdale Leader, The Riverbank News and The Escalon Times. He may be reached at drcruz@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 209-847-3021.