Here is a cairn my brother made for my older brother who passed in late

[applegrove]

April. Because my late brother lived in Japan for 30 years and met the love of his life there, the cairn is not done in stacked stones as the scots would do, or in the shape of a person as with an inuksuk of high arctic peoples in Canada would do. It is done with the stones separated, and with some thought the relationship between them, and with the negative space all part of the beauty. This is on an island in a lake in Quebec where we grew up. Thank you to the cousins who made it happen.

Link to tweet

[Blue Dawn]

1. I think it is beautiful.

It appears as if the large rock in the foreground is floating! I have no idea how your brother managed to do that. I like the design. I totally get the use of negative space, too.

I am so glad that you shared this. I am having a hard time sleeping tonight and came to DO to catch up on things, so it was really nice reading your post and seeing your photo. I find it very serene and peaceful. Thank you.

And please let me offer my condolences on the loss of your older brother.

[applegrove]

2. Thank you. He was a big presence in our lives despite the fact he lived

far away. I thnk of him every day. So many times a week I think "oh i'll share this with him .. then realize I can't". He was sentimental. He loved nature. He was a great character. He loved and was loved. He was honest and fought for social justice for others.

[Blue Dawn]

3. What you just wrote is such a loving tribute of your brother.

I would be honored if one of my siblings would say something similar about me. He must have been very special.

I totally understand what you mean about thinking you can't wait to share something with him and then getting hit with the realization that he is gone. It takes time for that loss to become real. I have been there, too.

Maybe you could write a post later with some memorable stories about him so that we can enjoy learning more about him? I, for one, would enjoy that.

I think the most wonderful description you wrote was, " He loved and was loved. " To me, that sums up a life well-lived. I aspire to that end myself.

Again, thank you for sharing. He sounds like a very special man.

[calimary]

4. This is beautiful.

And the large “flat” rock in the foreground DOES look like it’s floating!

What a lovely and touching tribute.

[applegrove]

9. My younger brother is very creative. It is perfect. Took him an hour and a half

to get the placement just right.

[littlemissmartypants]

5. Lovely tribute. Condolences on the loss of your brother.

I hope you find comfort in the happy memories he left behind. ❤

[applegrove]

6. Oh yes. He was entertaining and we have lots of stories to share with

each other. We are going through his personal things and he was very sentimental. He kept everything from the social justice projects to newspaper articles that he found salient. We found a notebook he must have done when he was 8 or 10 where he designed a hotel. He was interested in so many things and people. He had such great friends. My parents wrote him a lot. So much to yet learn about the old softy.

[babylonsister]

7. This is beautiful, as are

the sentiments you've expressed about your brother. He'll surely always be in your heart.

[applegrove]

8. Yes. He is always beside me. Thank you.