I'm the youngest in my family. If you're keeping score at home, the line-up is Jackson, Mick, Shannon and then me. My siblings are quit a bit older. My brothers are in their sixties and my sister is a year away from joining that club. I showed up about 15 years after my sister. I guess Mom got really drunk.

I just got off the phone with my oldest brother Jackson. He and Mick are very close. They are both Vietnam veterans. I look up to these guys and love them with all my heart, but we are SO different. Growing up in the 60's and serving in Nam, they both know their way around a Joint. I don't even think they own a pair of long pants and forget about shoes, flip flops only dude. We are all 100% Californian.

Anyway, back to todays phone call. When I talk to one family member, I usually find out how the others are holding up in that one conversation. Here's what Jackson laid on me today.

"Have you talked to Mick lately?" I asked. "I spoke to him the other day." He said. I had to prod a little more. "Well. How is he?" Jackson took a long breath, followed by a long pause "He's smoking a lot. He's eating like shit. He can't sleep and his teeth are rotting. He must be doing well though ... because he asked me to go online and get him some Viagra."

I've attached a picture of my two heros! Take about 3 months ago.