
The Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci, about 1491/2-9 and 1506-8 (The National Gallery, UK)
I’ve tried to work, but unsuccessfully. I therefore apologize.
My brother, Jean-Pierre, was operated on. They removed his bladder and parts of the body located near the bladder. He must now undergo chemotherapy because no one knows if the cancer has been fully removed. The cancer has metastasized.
In the meantime, he has to learn a new way of life. He has a loving wife who will be helping him.
He also has three devoted children, two of whom live nearby. They are very fine human beings.
Persons who have children often love life more those who have not had children. My brother’s bungalow is like grand central station. The children are always dropping in and discuss what problem they may be experiencing with their father.
My brother is non judgemental and he is forgiving. He is also very generous.
No, he is not an intellectual. He is in the clean energy business and has many customers in Africa. He has therefore travelled to Africa several times where he has many friends. But he started out in the Air Force. He was interested in the military.
At that time, he was in a car accident. There were five persons in the car. Four died, but he thought he was fine. He did not realize that a piece of glass had penetrated his forehead. When symptoms appeared, the piece of glass was removed at the Montreal Neurological Institute. He recovered fully, but the accident may have ended his career in the military.
What has united my brother and me more than anything else is the death of several siblings. There is a congenital blood disease in my family. So, we lost fourteen brothers and sisters. An Armenian doctor, whose family settled in Sherbrooke, found a cure. My brother and I could not understand why our family was not like other families.
I don’t think I will see my brother until he returns home. We will speak on the phone. He has asked to be left alone. He has to learn how to function without a bladder and needs rest before his second round of chemotherapy. A few months ago, my brother saw a specialist who did not diagnose cancer.

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, La Dernière Cène (Google)
I’m still working on the French Revolution. There is a problem. On the day of the Tennis Court Oath (20 June 1789), one person, Joseph Martin-Dauch, out of 577, would not take the collective vote. Why?
Daniil Trifonov – Chopin: Fantaisie-Impromptu In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66 | Yellow Lounge

© Micheline Walker
30 August 2018
WordPress
Peace be with you and your Brother Micheline.
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I thank you David. You’re very kind. My poor brother.
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I wish you and your brother well. I can understand how much rest he needs.
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Gallivanta, He needs rest and we must convince him that he is like the rest of us. However, no one should tell him that others are more unfortunate than he is. That is the worst thing one can do. At the moment, he has to feel important and loved. The cancer has not gone away. So, he has to continue to fight, which will be difficult. We’ll be there. I thank you for writing. Micheline ❤
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There is nothing so hard as a disease that takes everything from us. I can’t imagine the grief of so many of your siblings passing before you. Stay strong.
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I remember thinking that life was absurd, at age eight. We were born and we died. However, I became a very good pianist. Playing the piano was a way of expressing myself, so I practiced more than other piano students. My mother also enrolled us in drama school. But my brother didn’t deserve this tragedy. No one does. I’ll do my best to remain strong. I thank you for writing. 🙂
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I feel for you all, and wish him as well as can be
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Derrick,
Thank you. He’s my only brother: blue eyed, blond & large: day and night. Given the dead children, we are very close. We sought refuge in one another and our mother never complained and protected us. However, we didn’t have a real childhood, despite my mother’s effort. We learned we had to be good at a very young age. We could not understand what was happening and why this was happening to us. The dead children were used as guinea pigs. Fortunately, we had a second set of parents: our friends from Belgium, Henri and Mariette. We also had my godparents and our grandparents in Massachusetts. As my sister Thérèse used to say: it’s a good thing we have one another. I was told that my brother was now more optimistic. It may be that the second chemotherapy will work. ❤
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I hope so
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Derrick, by and large, despite the worst catastrophes, most human beings remain hopeful. By itself, chemotherapy is unlikely to work. This is an aggressive cancer. But Jean-Pierre is an optimist and he has a large support group. Thank you Derrick and take care.
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Je suis désolé, Micheline, que votre frère doive subir une si dure épreuve.
Je vous souhaite de tout mon coeur que cette seconde chimiothérapie réussisse.
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Je vous remercie infiniment. La vie de mon frère ne sera jamais plus la même. La première chimiothérapie a été extrêmement douleureuse et elle a aggravé le mal. Le cancer s’est répandu. Il lui faudra beaucoup de soutien pour que la deuxième réussisse. Je vous remercie infiniment de vos bons souhaits.
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Sorry to hear about your brother health . Hope now it is better . Hug by RInaldo.
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Thank you Rinaldo. They could not remove my brother’s cancer completely. He must begin a new course of chemotherapy. But, we are around him, cheering. Support may help him recover. Imagine, support from Venice! My beautiful Venice. I’ll have to tell him. You are very kind Rinaldo. So, it’s a hug by Micheline.
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Micheline ,
I hope for the well . Hugs to you and yours
Rinaldo.
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I thank you Rinaldo. It is good for my brother to know that Venice is cheering. He’s no longer the same. By the way, I can read Italian. I am sending my kindest thoughts. Ciao, Micheline 🙂
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