congrats on your brothers award. from the letters to home that you share it is well deserved. i have a similar situation that you have. calling my dad a alley cat is a insult to the cat. he is still around kicking but my mom passed a few years ago. but all in all it really does make you stronger and determined to do the opposite with my kids. thank god i have a wonderfull husband and father to my kids. He lets me do any project that i can dream up to with with them.