Malcolm,
my beloved brother,
What
a privilege, what an honor, what a blessing to have you as my brother.
To love you so dearly and to have you love me.
As
I look out and see before me so many who have come to honor and respect
you, I realize I am not just a biased sister who thinks her brother
is a most special person. All these people here are testimony that you
are indeed a most special person.
You
are my dear brother and my dear friend. Mom often recounts the story
of when I was 4 years old and you were 2 years old and she sent you
unannounced with me on a kindergarten road trip. The baffled teacher
could not understand why she kept on counting 21 little heads instead
of 20. Mom left me with strict instructions to hold your hand tightly
and look after you and I did. So many times you held my hand tightly
and looked after me and took care of me. Malcolm, thank you for your
fierce protection and loyalty and deep love.
You
very rarely spoke about yourself. Instead you asked many many questions
about other people’s lives. You were an intent listener and I watched
scores of people warm to you and open up and share their anguishes and
pains and their hopes and dreams with you. You stored and processed
this information and then turned around to use it in some way to make
a pain easier or a dream come true for the person who shared it with
you. I personally experienced this magnificent quality of yours many
times. Malcolm, thank you for your endless compassion and empathy and
love.
Such
a shining example, my brother. You lived your life valiantly, fully
and with true gusto. You forged ahead against incredible odds and achieved
many things that people stood in awe at. You got into and out of challenging
situations with style and ease and great grace. You negotiated and bargained
and maneuvered and renegotiated so that all involved came out ahead
and felt good about themselves. You helped me resolve many personal
conflicts and challenges with this gift of yours. Malcolm, thank you
for your example of living life fully and for tirelessly forging ahead
in the face of adversity and challenge. I have told you you are my hero
and I tell you again now. Malcolm, I love and cherish your courage and
strength.
So
modest and humble, my brother. Many times I found out quite by accident
how you shared your hugely generous heart and your endless giving nature.
Someone in the community would tell mom how they served with you on
this board of members or that committee or this group. Mom would call
me up and say "did you know your brother did this or that or the
other" and I did not know, but it did not surprise me as you never
boasted about your goodness and true giving nature. I remember the time
I found out how you delivered meals on wheels to the elderly. You were
visiting our small, overcluttered apartment and remarked how it reminded
you of when you visited the elderly. It would take them ten minutes
to open the front door after you rang as they wound their way through
all their lifetime of clutter to get to the front door. When I questioned
your visits to the elderly , you casually informed me that you delivered
meals on wheels. Children, your peers, the elderly. People warmed to
you charm and truth right away. So many love and adore you. Malcolm,
thank you for showering me and all those around you with your generosity
and warmth and love. I love and cherish your gentleness.
These
past few months I have been privy to all the wonderful things those
who know you have shared with me and our family. In these stories I
recognize how special you are to all who know you. In your own way,
you showed us all your truth and your light. I feel so full of pride
and honor and love for you. I will miss you here very much but know
you will always be with me.
Malcolm.
I stand here before you and offer you all my protection and love as
you continue with your journey. I know it will be as magnificent as
the part of your journey you have just completed. I love you so very
much, my beloved brother.
