My brother is 3 1/2 years older than me. We were close as kids growing up but he got into some trouble when he was a teenager and my folks sent him away to boarding school. I got to go to the local public school. At the time I didn't realize it but he was probably jealous of me because I had a group of friends and we'd go out together and my brother didn't have many friends.
Then he had a nervous breakdown around the time he went to college and hasn't been the same since. He talks to himself and can't work. He collects SSI.
We used to get into it because he'd fly off the handle and we'd end up fighting. As a result I avoided him. I didn't feel comfortable being in the same room as him. I basically gave him the silent treatment for years because I thought he was crazy (he is crazy).
Now, I'm 47 and he'll be 51 in a few months. I've been thinking alot about my brother lately. I feel terrible that I didn't talk to him and pay more attention to his well being. It must have been devastating that I avoided him and gave him the silent treatment all those years. And his condition has gotten worse, in part because he has nobody to talk to.
Over the years I can remember people telling me, "you should talk to your brother". I didn't really understand what they meant until a few weeks ago my brother called me out of the clear blue and said, "I don't have anybody to talk to".
That's one of my biggest regrets. When my brother was going through hard times I wasn't there for him. And now his life is a mess and there's nothing I can do about it.