Thank you for this. Yes, he is still alive. It's strange because he is almost fully absent, but sends me a happy birthday text each year. It always throws me for a loop.
Maybe we never do stop yearning. I love the idea of the world as family. That is comforting.
The world as family - that makes sense! - especially for those whose DNA family are not there for us, but strangers, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, and authors seem more present in our lives than those siblings and parents who are not.... the happy birthday text once a year would be confusing; is it just a token gesture, or a genuine desire for him to reach out to you and let you know you're loved? I hope you feel loved and appreciated, if not by your family of origin, then all who are blessed to know you.