Ah, now I understand the music connection and all the singing on road trips. Good old Peggy Lee. I can see you both with the windows down, hair flying, belting out tunes along the highway.

I'm so sorry about your brother Debra. That is absolutely heartbreaking. It sounds like your mom never recovered from his death and tried to numb her pain in various ways. It's wonderful you still loved her fiercely through thick and thin. If you've written stories about your mom, I'd love to read them. You're an excellent storyteller.