4th Lit. Circle Mtg. - Brother I'm Dying

Quote #1
Quote by Uncle Joseph
page 154

"'She was my friend, my wife, the woman who stood by me both when I could speak and when I was silent,' he said."

Significance: It is a hard thing to go through to lose a close family member like that. Even a family friend's death would be hard to cope with. I think medical conditions like diabetes and strokes are the worst way for someone to die, because at first they're expecting to die but when it does not happen when they want, they want to die. Which is the worst feeling in the world; to be in such bad condition that you want to die. It must have been especially hard to Uncle Joseph because she had stood by his side when he was thinking over the decision of getting a laryngectomy and when he completely lost his voice. They were not the perfect happy couple; they went through too many hardships together.
Personal Connection: My mom's best friend, Todd, died when I was six. I do not remember what he died of, but I do remember sobbing so that the heavens could hear me. Todd had been a close friend to me too, because he was almost like a fun uncle. But the day before he died he came over to my house on a wheelchair, but my mom wouldn't let me see him. I believe it had something to do with the fact that he smoked. He never smoked around me, because my mom hates it when young children are closely exposed to cigarette smoke.
Question: Did you ever have a close relative or friend that died? How did you react to it?

Quote #2
Quote by Edwidge
page 161

"Sometimes, however, he would get a craving for take-out fried chicken and plantains, and either Bob or Karl would stop at a nearby restaurant and pick them up for him before coming over to the house to bathe him."

Significance: Edwidge's father cannot even drive himself to go get some food or bathe himself. That lets me know how sick Edwidge's father really is, and how frail he has become. Now I know that Edwidge's father likes fried-chicken and plantains.
Personal Connection: My nana had a surgery and my mom had to drive her home because she had reacted badly to the drugs and she was still only half-conscious. My nana always cooks her own dinner, but she was too groggy and tired to cook so my mom, sister, and I went to go pick up some pizza. After she ate she felt better, but it was kind of sad seeing her so gray and quiet, unlike her normal active self. My favorite dinner she makes is pork roast with red beans on rice and tostones. Tostones are a Puerto-Rican dish that are made out of plantains, which is what Edwidge's father was eating.
Question: Have you ever eaten tostones? If so, where did you eat them and who made them?