Metro Spirit - 09.14.17
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V28|NO37<br />
Irmagerd!<br />
Kris Fisher<br />
Irma swept through our area this week with fury and destruction, downgraded<br />
from, ultimately, a Category 5 hurricane to a tropical storm by the time we felt the<br />
effects. She left debris all over the CSRA. Some, including myself, had trees down,<br />
some were left without power, some even had damage to their homes. And I would like<br />
to take this time to thank Irma for coming by.<br />
Obviously, I’m not thanking Irma for the destruction that she caused for some<br />
people. My thoughts are with all of those who received damage — especially those<br />
south of us. Florida will be feeling this for months to come.<br />
The reason I’m thanking Irma is far more self-serving. Not only did Irma make my<br />
kids’ rigorous schedule of practices and games cease for a couple of days, giving the<br />
wife and me a much-needed break, but we got some company, too. My little brother<br />
lives in Effingham County, one of the counties that evacuated because of the storm.<br />
My wife and I invited him and his family in to get away from the storm. This may seem<br />
like an easy thing to do but, my relationship with my little brother hasn’t always been<br />
sunshine and roses.<br />
Without telling all of his business, he’s had a troubled past. Some people may be<br />
able to relate. Many of us have a loved one who loses their way and gets mixed up<br />
in things they shouldn’t. Some of those loved ones never find their way out of it. I’m<br />
happy to say, I think my brother has found his.<br />
His life path has led him to jail on occasion. After serving whatever time he would<br />
get, he would get out, hang out with the same crowds, make some more bad decisions<br />
and find his way back behind bars. Its a frustrating cycle of which I had all but washed<br />
my hands. You know the feeling: “I’ve had it! I’m done with this and won’t let him drag<br />
me through this cycle over & over!” However, no matter how much I try to separate<br />
myself, it’s my little brother. It killed me to see the life he was living.<br />
The last time he got out of the pokey, I was skeptical. I figured he would do the same<br />
thing as always: fly straight for a few months then start with the debauchery again and<br />
into find his way into another jumpsuit. Then came Irma.<br />
When my little bro came to stay with us, I feel like I met a new man. I don’t know<br />
what it was, but something finally clicked for him. He carried himself differently, spoke<br />
differently, was fatherly to his children and talked about how important work was<br />
to him. This last bit is huge. I’ve never met a person so allergic to manual labor in<br />
my life, which is hard to believe because, after all, I know me. We had some deep<br />
conversations, and I discovered that he has new priorities in life — not because he told<br />
me, but because I could just see it.<br />
So, this is why I’d like to thank Irma. Thank you for bringing my little brother over so<br />
I could see the changes for myself. He’s still got a rough road ahead of him, but now<br />
I believe in him. That’s something that I haven’t done in a long time. For anyone else<br />
that may have a friend or family member that struggles the way he has, don’t lose<br />
hope. Be sure to talk to someone about it if you need to; more people understand than<br />
you realize. Hopefully you’ll see a change in that person, too. And, hopefully, it won’t<br />
take a hurricane to see it.<br />
KRIS FISHER is the midday host and program director for HD98.3 and an Augusta radio staple. He<br />
is a husband, father of three and lover of all things adventurous, as well as activities most people<br />
would have outgrown years ago. djkfish.com.<br />
14SEPTEMBER2017<br />
AUGUSTA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE SINCE 1989 METROSPIRIT<br />
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