So a quarter century ago, I was in high school with my older brother. The school was situation on a hill in town, and while the two of us drove separately as we had different schedules, we both went the same route.
So one fall I noticed a car that looked like dad's while driving home. It wasn't a common model, as I hadn't noticed another one around town that was the same color. Saw it occasionally, but didn't really think anything of it. About a month later my older brother called me into his room.
"Have you seen dad's car on the way home from school?" he asked.
"Is it his? Thought it was a coincidence."
"Yeah, the plates are the same and when I passed it today he saw me." he said.
"Oh, did you stop and say hi?"
"No, he looked upset and I think he is cheating on mom. Have you noticed how she has been so quiet lately?"
There was a knock on the door and my dad asked us to come out to the dining room as he had an announcement. We went out, my younger brother and sister were already there and my mom was choking back tears. My brother and I sat down and dad, looking as sad as I've ever seen him took a minute to get started.
"[older brother], I saw you today and knew it was time that you all needed to know. Some things just happen, and it isn't anyone's fault," said dad.
My older brother looked surprised, and opened his mouth to speak. Dad cut him off.
"This is a lot for kids to hear," he said, as mom burst into tears. "I have leukemia."
"Oh, thank god!" said my older brother. "What is that?" he said to two very confused and tearful parents.
It's been long enough I don't remember the rest, but he was able to deflect it and we went through the emotional roller coaster that is coming to grips with a serious illness. Dad mentioned that he saw my older brother when he was leaving his leukemia support group meeting that is near the high school, and knew that keeping it from us wasn't the right thing to do. A lot of crying and hugs, and serious questions about what was ahead.
The next summer we did our last family road trip and did a two week round trip. Dad went through chemo, which was rough on him physically and mentally, and eventually scheduled a bone marrow transplant as one of his brothers was a match. The odds of success were very low at the time, and unfortunately he did have a stroke during the surgery and we had to say goodbye. He was 49.
