My Brother — John Hickey, Three Years Gone

Remembering the 3-year anniversary of my brother John Hickey's passing, and listening to the ethereal “Far Away” music that I chose as the background sound track for the multimedia tribute I created for “Johnny”… I find myself overwhelmed with sadness that I had thought was behind me. Indeed… Johnny is simultaneously (as they say in the song) “Far Away, Beyond the Sky” and also as close to me as one can get — still very much present in my heart.

Nevertheless… 3 years seems like an eternity. So I've decided to add one to my collection of blog articles about Johnny, today, and to highlight the picture on the right of “Johnny in his glory” — leading the way for his family, down to commune with Mother Nature at the place, near where he used to live in Ontario, Canada, where the mighty Mississippi river continues to carve its way thru the “Red Rocks” where we often went for picnics. Since my baby girl, on my shoulders, looks to be about 18 months old, I'd guess this picture was taken in 1992. So that would make Johnny 51 in this picture. Wow!

This article got started, today, because I received the following text from my big sister, Nanci, who later agreed to have me include her message in this article honoring Johnny:     I just woke up today with Johnny on my mind. Can it really be three years since he left us so sadly? I am sending you all a big hug today and warm thoughts about a treasured brother, father, partner. I found myself typing the word “copesthetic” to someone in an email this morning and remembered the time when Johnny was on a binge saying this word. He thought it was so clever and loved to tease us by using it. It is still a great word for impressing. And impress people Johnny did with his wonderful sense of humour and wit. Thanks Lorraine for making his final years the best they could be and for sticking by him through thick and thin. Thanks to you Kevin for being such a great brother to him, for welcoming him into your family with open arms and making him feel loved and special… and to Karina for being such a perfect daughter to him through all the love and the pain. He was blessed more than he knew and he gave us more than we realized. I am so grateful for the support he gave me throughout my year of cancer treatment and miss him in my life. May he rest in peace. I hope to get back to the graveyard this year and see how well that burning bush is doing.
—love Nanci   

To experience one of the sounds that always reminds me of Johnny — especially of us growing up on Pigeon Lake in Ontario… click here and listen to the sound of a lonely loon, crying out to his mate, over the stillness of the water.

We sure miss you, big brother !!