Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Families.
Following My Father: San Francisco
My year off left me eager to embark on my college career. I had the break I wanted and sensed an urgent need to get on with my education. I enrolled at City College, and took buses and the Ocean Avenue streetcar to the campus to register.
By Caroni Lombard5 years ago in Families
Being Daddy's Little Girl
It's hard to know what to say if you wish to write about your best friend who, during my childhood, was my father and died when I was only ten. Because I lost him so soon, some of my memories are brighter and more definite than they might have been if I had been able to be with him as an adult.
By Rasma Raisters5 years ago in Families
Beef Shanks and Alcohol
In the cupboard where I keep my cookbooks is a small square black spiral bound notebook with a colorful butterfly on the cover is a forty-five-year-old recipe for my sister Winnie’s beef shanks. On two pages, the recipe, in her handwriting, is taped on pink stationery. They have got to be the best beef shanks I ever ate!
By Caroni Lombard5 years ago in Families
Sarah Watson's inheritance
Sarah walked out of her deceased father's attorney's office in the CBD with the little green box, which contained a little black book and the check for $20,000 from Commonwealth Bank. She was not sure what will she find. Sarah crossed Martin Place's pathway looking for her car. When she finally gets into the car, she cannot wait to open the box and check what was inside. Sarah already knew how she would use the money from her inheritance. The chestnut hair woman would probably use it to start a new business venture, especially after closing her coffee shop due to the Covid19 pandemic.
By Rossana Naveda5 years ago in Families
The black book with family secrets (2nd edition)
Sarah walked out of her deceased father's attorney's office in the CBD with the little green box, which contained a gift and the check for $20,000 from the Commonwealth Bank. She was not sure what will she find inside the box. Sarah crossed Martin Place's pathway looking for her car. When she finally gets into the car, she cannot wait to open the box and check what was inside. Sarah already knew how she would use the money from her inheritance. The chestnut hair woman would probably use it to start a new business venture, especially after closing her coffee shop due to the Covid19 pandemic.
By Rossana Naveda5 years ago in Families
Mama
I closed my eyes to get some sleep when I felt her reaching out to me for me to hold her hand. She did not want me to leave her side that night. It was a few days before she passed away. Mama had been sick for many years with heart disease. Her health began to rapidly decline two months before she passed away. Let me go back a bit. In 2001, my father passed away from a massive stroke. So, for eighteen years it was just Mom and me. We were always together. Wherever I went, she was with me. And wherever she went, I was with her. In the last five years of her life, she began to get weaker from the heart disease. She had her third heart attack in 2014 and it was then discovered that her heart was only functioning at 40%. However, my mom was a fighter. She stayed strong and kept fighting until she was too tired to fight. After her third heart attack, she made the decision to become a DNR patient. Meaning, that if something was to happen and she was to flatline, she did not want to be resuscitated. Her saying was if it was her time to go then let her go. Of course, I and my siblings did not want to entertain the thought of anything happening to her. This was our mom. We could not imagine life without it. I am the youngest of four children. My three older siblings are married and have families of their own. We did not want to place Mom into a nursing home because we were not too keen on having someone else taking care of her. So, since I was the one who was not married and did not have any children, I took on the responsibility of taking care of her full time. I am not going to tell you that it was all rainbows and sunshine because it was not. There were days that it became frustrating and stressful. I wanted to throw in the towel many times because taking care of a parent is not an easy task. But I am grateful that I had the opportunity to take care of her. She was my angel. My road dog. I miss her so much.
By Sholanda Marible5 years ago in Families
Lessons from a Gambling Family
My mom grew up going to Las Vegas with her sisters and parents. Once the family grew, my cousins and I grew up going to Vegas. We also grew up gambling on Loteria (Mexican bingo), playing scratchers, and knowing that superstitions are personal for what works for you.
By Ariana GonBon5 years ago in Families
Ruby's Purse and The Pandemic
The year was the year 2020, an extraordinary year of both pain and reflection. I was in my early forties, recently divorced, and was working as a nurse on the frontlines in rural Tennessee during a deadly surge of the coronavirus pandemic. Our bed capacity was stretched to its limits and our small staff was overwhelmed and scared.
By Taylor Amy5 years ago in Families
Gifted Strings
My phone chimed as I drove. Most often, it says, “Potential Spam,” and I’ve come to not over stress when I hear it ring. Because I own a business, my phone number exists in the world rather readily, and with that comes extra spam calls. Not this time. On the little magnetic clip over the air vent, my phone said, “Aunt Carol.” Man. I love catching up with my Aunt Carol! But, I was nearly to my student’s house and knew I’d need to let it go to voicemail and call her back later.
By Elizabeth Hunter5 years ago in Families
