October 14, 2008

Bruce

My dad's brother Bruce died this morning. It happened suddenly, and I can't really believe it.

He's 18 months older than my dad, but because of the timing of their birthdays, they were only a year apart in school. Bruce was outgoing where my dad is introverted. Bruce was the comic to my dad's straight man. My dad only joined a fraternity because Bruce joined before him. They were friends. They were brothers.

My aunt and uncle came to our wedding in May, and in most of the photos of my dad walking me down the aisle, you can see Bruce standing to the side with his video camera. It made me laugh when I first saw those photos, because if there is one thing all Merrill men have in common, it is their love of gadgets, especially cameras.

I realized earlier today that his youngest granddaughter is exactly the same age I was -- my grandfather's youngest granddaughter --when my grandfather passed away in 1988. Twelve is too young to lose your Grandpa Merrill.

Posted by hannah at 05:03 PM