Here's a generally positive report to help lift the mood.

Our family (four siblings) fell apart to some degree when our parents died within six months of each other in 1997-98. One sibling is a sociopath and made life hell for a couple of years. It caused a general chilling effect for the rest of us, and hard feelings from the trouble he stirred up. It took a long time before I was finally able to ask the other two "what were you thinking?" about some of their actions in response to the youngest's tumult.

I think we've all lost track of the youngest, he has separated himself and isolated his child and former partner from our family, but we wish him well. I am grateful that the other three of us are back to being on good terms. When my nephew turns 18 I'll reach out and offer our friendship, and hope his view of the rest of us hasn't been poisoned by his father's behavior. I bring this up now because my recently-graduated son has moved to start a new job in the area where my brother and sister live, and they have welcomed him with open arms and good advice, in those few occasions when it seemed suitable to offer it.

It's good when you can put [most of] your family back together.

SRS