I'm proud of my brother.

Today, I dropped my brother off at divorce court.  It truly has been a long time coming.  They each suffered from addiction and were rather toxic together.  He said that while S- was trying to get the court to say that he was liable for the school loans that amassed, the judge said that he is not.  After court, he went to the bathroom as he said that he, "Wasn't interested in standing around and talking to the woman that he just divorced." 

He was supposed to phone me from the court house to come and get him.  I never heard from him.  Mom called, said that S- called and said that he didn't have a phone and needed a ride.  I went down, sat near the courthouse, he wasn't there and then I pulled out the section of my brain that thinks like my brother and realized that he was walking.  I went the way that I knew he would go and in about 10 minutes, I found him.  I pulled up and all he could do was smile.  "How'd you know to find me here?"  "I thought like you."  He finished up smoking his cigarette and I proceeded to drive him back to work.  On the way, we drove past his girlfriend's house.  He grew concerned when he saw that her sister was there.  Later, I found out why.  Long story short, through what I understand was a series of poor decisions, she ended up driving her new car into a ditch and totaling it.  Knowing the circumstances that happened, my brother opted to remove himself from the situation, as last time this type of thing happened, he landed in jail and was released with Lindsay Lohan jail jewelry.  (No, he didn't demand Chanel stickers for it, either.)  For the record, the charges have since been dropped and the protection order removed, but not before my brother sat in jail for 8 days. 

He stopped by the house on the way to shacking up at my parents only to have her sock him in the jaw. 

Good times.

He phoned me tonight.  I think he wanted to let me know that he is okay.  I talked to him a bit today on the drives that we made.  I told him that I'm proud of him for removing himself from the situation that he was in.  He said that he didn't want to go back to jail.  He said that he's trying to do good things in his life.  I told him that he needed to stop being Sisyphus.  (The whole rolling the rock forever thing and having nothing new happen.) 

There's this.  I was talking to my friend, Kay, this AM.  I was telling her about my brother, divorce court, his girlfriend wanting to be there and about how he didn't think it was such a hot idea.  I told her, "Kay, I wish the girl no ill will, but we seriously need to pray her away."  I found out what happened tonight and my mom said to me, "We need to pray her away."  I laughed and said that I told Kay that exact same thing.  Right before my mom called, I phoned Kay. "Kay, when I talked to you this morning about praying my brother's girlfriend away, did you pray?"  "Well, I did."  "Kay, he left her and I don't know what type of direct line you are running at your house, but you are good."  She laughed and said, "Well, I prayed about it, but not that hard!" 

I know that my brother does and continues to do stupid, stupid things.  He's my brother and I still love him with every pore of my being.  I will help him.  I will not enable him.  Today, I was transportation, some words (not so gentle) and a cheerleader.  To God, I am grateful for giving me the opportunities to help my brother out to make good decisions in a positive direction. 

Today ends and my brother is safe.  :with tears:  It's all I can ask for.