My brother, Fred Jr.
At this point in my life, I am fascinated by the passage of life and the changes in values that one goes through in midlife. Certainly, it has been called a crisis and for some, I’m sure that it is. Sometimes it is a complete restructuring of ones life. Values change. Things that worked before, no longer work. Relationships dissolve, others are born out of the loss. Amazing if you step by and look at it.
As a young man, of course, my career was important. Raising a family, doing the right thing, etc. Now, as I’m older, I feel the need, no the desire, to reconnect with family. All of my brothers and sisters are 1/2 brothers and sisters, same father, different mothers, save for my sister Earlene, same mother, different fathers. However, we’ve never used the ’1/2′. We are just brothers and sisters.
I have 3 brothers, two sisters:
- Fred Jr. – Akron, Ohio
- Charles – Akron, Ohio
- Henry – Memphis, Tennessee
- Earlene – Akron, Ohio
- Carolyn – Memphis, Tennessee
All of my siblings are at least 10 years older than I. As families go, I was pretty much raised as an only child. And, as a consequence, my siblings and I were never very close. We loved each other, but didn’t hang out together. As a matter of fact, I don’t even remember their birthdays or ages, except for Earlene’s because we talk all the time and I stay at her house every time that I go to Akron. Also, our birthdays are in the same month, February. Hers on the second, mine the 20th.
Fred Jr. is the elder brother. We did spend some time together. He loves to fish and so he, my father, and I used to go fishing a lot on Lake Erie. We like to joke with each other about who can catch the most undesirable fish. I see he is the king; he says that it is me. 
I took this photo last weekend while in Akron. I was walking around downtown taking photos and he drove by, stopped, and we talked for about 20 minutes or so. He was riding in his minivan that has nearly 200,000 miles on it and it’s only about 5 years old! He drives a lot.
Some number of years ago he got really deep into the church, became a preacher, and now travels the world and the country visiting prisoners and preaching his truth. Thankfully he doesn’t preach to me.
I see him probably about once a year when I visit Akron. I feel that I want to visit much more often now, at least twice a year.
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One Response to “Brothers: Fred Jr.”
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Me[kayla],jeff,earlene,pamsy and edward are happy that you put carles are yourwebsite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$4<3