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  Date / Time: 1/31/2008 9:31 AM UTC

  My Brother's Death in Dubai
  

  My show has been on hiatus for a few weeks because of my brother's (Robert Lee Thomas, Jr.) untimely death. He was serving a three month tour as a Merchant Seaman over in Dubai.  On January 1st my brother died from a heart attack at 46 years old. Rob was my only brother and outside of my wife, he was my biggest and most faithful supporter. 
  
  Whether I had a book signing, radio show, TV interview or Launch Party, Rob would be there cheering me on.  He even financed by publishing business from the start. I shared my business plan with him and he immediately said, "That sounds like a good idea, I'll finance the whole thing."  My brother always believed in me. He was also a devoted husband for 21 years, a great father to three children, and a friend to many.
  
  When I received the sad news of Rob's passing, the very next day, my wife and I flew over 7,500 miles (one-way) to the Middle East to escort his body back home. I didn't hesitate to go because I had to find out what had happened to my brother so far away from home.  Not only that, I knew he wouldn't have hesitated to do the same for me.
  
  Neither my wife nor I could ever imagine what would lie ahead of us.  After one week of going back and forth to the police station, identifying the body, visiting the area where he died, dealing with the American Consulate, going to the hospital where he was pronounced DOA, talking to some of his fellow workers on the ship, giving the hospital the approval to embalm his body and having to sign a lot of paperwork to repatriate his body, we were worn out yet relieved that we were finally able to make our way back to Atlanta.
  
  The most difficult part for me was going to Savannah to the funeral.  The city just didn't seem the same anymore.  It seemed empty on that cold and rainy day.  And when they closed the casket, the finality of it all sank in.  It was tough to bear.
  
  As I was going through this ordeal, some of the things Rob reminded me of is life is so short. He reminded me that most of our conversations should be about how we can help one another because we never know whose helping hand we might need.  I was also reminded that for the most part, we're all literally in the same boat!
  
  So...I encourage all of you to take inventory of the few friends, family and loved ones you have and try to nourish the relationships because in the end, that's all that really matters.
  
  The Spark Plug
  People You Need to Know
  www.sparkplugpeople.com
  
  • Tags:
  • Grief
  • American Consulate
  • Dubai
  • Robert Lee Thomas
  • Jr.
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