grandparents
Becoming a grandparent makes getting older something to look forward to - all the fun of parenting, without the hassle.
Kitchen Alchemy
My maternal grandmother grew up in a Polish-speaking community in New Jersey. She told me that when she was young, her family was so poor that sometimes the only meat they had to eat were squirrels that her older brothers hunted and brought home. Her mother turned whatever she had into delicious soups and stews. My grandmother told me that was the “old way” of cooking- taking whatever you had and melding it into something palatable.
By Amy Writes4 years ago in Families
Christmas Package
Dear Arthur, I sure do miss you. I wish you were here to spend Christmas with the grandkids and me. It just isn’t the same without you. Susan took off again and left the kids with me. Megan is worried sick about her mom, but the boys haven’t said much about her. They spend all their time down the road playing with a new boy that just moved to the neighborhood. He seems like a nice kid. I keep reminding Justin and Jonathan not to wear out their welcome down there. But you know how those boys are. I just can’t tell them anything.
By Winter Lynn4 years ago in Families
Eternal Dues
Henry locks half a dozen doors and draws a dozen curtains closed. He raises his wrist to the horizon painted on the wall before him and looks to his analogue watch. Unable to read his present he pulls his phone out his pocket. Ignoring four unread messages from his mother, he reads 9:23PM. His first autonomous shift started four hours and twenty three minutes ago, it feels longer. He checks for the pager on his belt, the work phone in his left pocket and the master key for all 200 units around his neck. He took the job to spend time with his remaining grandparent. He fears his grandfather won’t be able to tenant his unit in the by-and-by for it is independent living. Grandpa Arthur wishes to die there.
By Brode Foscaro4 years ago in Families
The Puzzling Gift
Trent awoke before the sun, and spent a good hour studying before he needed to be up. He loved this time - the world was silent, his lamp the only light in the entire valley. It calmed him to know that nothing stirred or called for his attention: years living on the streets had taught him well the hair-trigger instinct of listening for anything out of place. And so for Trent this pre-dawn tranquility was a pocket of heaven. Besides, he had a lot to catch up on to be worthy of this gift of happiness.
By Angie Allanby4 years ago in Families
Legal Solutions against Elders' Abuse in the Nursing Home
Elder abuse in the country’s nursing homes and long-term care facilities is a growing problem with no end in sight. Hopefully, there are several legal tools families and communities could make use of to prevent the phenomenon. With more than 15,000 nursing homes in the United States, keeping all residents safe same seems very unlikely, but change happens one person at a time.
By Kryder Law Group4 years ago in Families
The House My Grandma Built
I looked over at my day in the porch, and he was jussa smiling. His face seemed light. No, really, I could see the joy in him. Then he said, “I remember when my mama bought this house.” He was a lil poor black boy, but his mama, took him with her when she finalized the paperwork.
By Gabby Valentino4 years ago in Families
Coming Home Again - Part III
Two days had passed since his Grandfather's funeral, and Dustin Henry lay awake in the pre-dawn first light of day. He thought about Jenny and a feeling of peace and contentment flooded his mind and heart. He was certain he would be lost without her right now.
By Linda Rivenbark5 years ago in Families
Rural Delivery
They had been playing in the old barn before they went to the kitchen for slices of chocolate cake that their Grandma had made that afternoon. When they finished their cake and milk they sped through the door to play outside. It was a beautiful October day. Bang...bang. The old screen door with a spool for a handle banged shut behind them. The spring sang its usual song as it stretched and then retracted to pull the door shut. Theodore jumped off the deck, quickly followed by Oliver, and landed in the big pile of leaves from the big maple tree in Grandpa's yard. Oliver nearly landed on him, but Theodore was too quick and rolled away before he could be pinned. They could hear Grandpa whistling while he worked in the garden. The garden was between the garage and the old barn out back. He couldn't see them in the leaf pile by the deck, but he grinned to himself when he heard the door bang and the crashing sounds of little ones landing and rolling in the leaf pile. He had raked the leaves to that spot purposely. Grandma stepped onto the deck with her camera and snapped a photo of the boys in the leaf pile. She hoped that one day they would find the photo and reminisce about great memories. She thought about her own childhood and the precious memories of life in the country with her parents and grandparents for a moment and then snapped one more photo as Grady joined the boys in the leaf pile. Grady, a loveable little wiry mutt, was another dog they rescued after he was dumped near their rural place. Pet dumping was far too common an occurrence out there. Pets and trash were left by city people with no respect for property, other folk, or the planet. Well, anyway, Grady was fortunate to be adopted by Grandpa and Grandma instead of being collected by animal control. Grandma doted on him and on the adopted stray kitties scattered around the place. Grady and the boys loved playing in the yard all through the year, but October was especially fun for them when the leaves fell.
By Thomas Durbin5 years ago in Families
Fruit Of His Labor
Its true what they say, when you marry somebody you marry their family too. My father-in-law was a good hard working man. He loved his family, he loved his friends and he loved God. He also had a love for the outdoors. As long as I was his daughter-in-law every year he had huge gardens. He also had several fruit trees that he loved to take care of. I think the Pear Tree was his favorite. After he retired he spent more and more time in his garden and with his fruit trees. His hard labor paid off. He was able to sell many vegetables from his garden. On Saturdays he would be at The Farmers Market selling his vegetables and his fruit. He never sold many pears however because he loved to eat them himself. He was very proud of his beautiful Pears. Dad did let his children and grandchildren have a pear now and again. If he ever saw you eat a pear and then you tossed it he would go look in the trash to make sure the pear had been eaten. He was not one for wasting and for SURE not food. Don't waste Food. I have to say the old dude would eat almost anything. One of the pleasures in his ninety years of life was going out to eat or eating a nice meal at home, just somebody feed him. My husband - his oldest son is a lot like his Dad. Dad was strict and did things old school. It made my husband the dad he is today. I do not always agree with my husband but I love and respect him. To us our sons are great but what parent doesn't feel that way. Our oldest always sent a big box of pears to dad for Christmas. His always got that sweet little grin when he was happy. I saw that every year as he opened that box. I had got cuttings of the pear tree and Dad would even come out to our house to help me plant it and take care of it. No matter what we tried and both of us were good with plants this one would not grow yall (the tree would never grow). I have loved plants and green things since I was small. I had a sister that was great with plants. She had the most healthy and most beautiful plants around the County. She probably pushed my love for plants, flowers, trees up a notch or two. Dad only added to that with the gardens and the fruit trees. I am most happy when outside watching the trees blow in the wind and the lightning light up the sky. I am of course in my favorite rocking chair on my front porch. My sister has been gone from this world a long time now but my father-in-law passed in 2020. He died from Covid but fought to the end. We used the picture above of dad and his pear tree at his Memorial. Every time I see pears on the side of the road for sale, in the grocery store or somebody eating one, I think of Dad. (picture taken by me:)
By Kathy Taylor5 years ago in Families
A Slice Of Victory
"What do you want me to do with this chocolate cake Ares?" Mandi asked while eyeing the beautifully decorated cake on the counter. The missing two pieces, one on each side did nothing to take away from the detail put into the cake. She looked at the back of a auburn colored ponytailed head with fly away strands dancing under the ceiling fan.
By Kristie Glass5 years ago in Families
