grief

Losing a family member is one of the most traumatic life events; Families must support one another to endure the five stages of grief and get through it together.

When Grief Interrupts Your Perfectly Planned Life
Patrick has been gone for 1,581 days. I’ve only seen him in videos and pictures. Some days it seems like just yesterday, and on others, it feels like an eternity. Over the years, I have shared the ups and downs of my journey.
By Danell Boyles TeNyenhuis Black5 years ago in Families
Welcome Aboard
The first thing I smelled was the salt coming off the ocean. It surrounded me, permeating everything. It smelled... CLEAN, almost like laundry that had just come off the line, dried outside in the open air. I could smell the moisture in the air, but I couldn’t feel any dampness or humidity. The aroma was fresh and green, like an expensive organic room spray, but better.
By Tiffiany Collier5 years ago in Families
Anamchara
Katelyn was blessed with a mane of flaming red hair which was also a bit of a curse for it aptly warned suitable suitors of her fiery temper. “That temper of yours may cost you your soulmate,” warned Seamus more than once. The prescience of his statement can be debated, but for Katelyn it seems too true. Katelyn Doneghan, a sturdy woman, was born of hardy Irish stock. Her father, Seamus raised her to know the ways of the world, its harshness, its cruelty; but he also instilled in her an understanding that love abounds in all creatures great and small.
By David Zinke aka ZINK5 years ago in Families
Liam's Sweater
Liam’s Sweater “Never marry a sailor,” her mother warned. “They are always leaving.” But love does not ask your trade. At first, when Rachael met Liam, she resisted the blue +cap. But when dimples appeared on either side of his smile like attractive bookends, her mother’s advice was jetsam, discarded and thrown overboard.
By Ramona Scarborough5 years ago in Families
TO SLEEP IN SAFETY
TO SLEEP IN SAFETY… ...it seemed that I’d forgotten what that felt like. It all started in April of 1944, I was 30 years old and had only known the peace and struggle of farm life in Arkansas. My family was not financially rich, but wealthy in love for each other. I had 3 brothers and 2 sisters. I married in 1937, a local girl that I had been sweet on finally accepted my proposal. For 5 years we were happy, until a fever set in upon my bride. I lost her in 1942. Heartbroken and lonely, I somehow made it through long workdays and dreams of her at night.
By David Jeffers5 years ago in Families
Cemetery
A light haze of morning fog covers the tops of graves. There are children’s voices and laughter – kids came to the cemetery to collect sweets from gravestones. It is so adventurous to have such an unusual breakfast. The cemetery is located on the hill near the forest: some graves are hidden between trees. They frighten those who accidently run into them, while collecting mushrooms. Folks in the village believe everything that is growing on the cemetery is poisonous because of the taste of dead people. But kids don’t care – they collect wild berries and apples to have better breakfast with sweets from the gravestones.
By Nina Ros5 years ago in Families
My Dead Husband Mooned Me
April 20th marked five years since my husband Patrick left for his early morning bike ride and never returned home. I try to write something each year to talk about my changes in perspective. This year I am adding some random thoughts and memories.
By Danell Boyles TeNyenhuis Black5 years ago in Families
Your Favourite Song
It’s been twenty days now, twenty days of hell and three days of seeing you in my dreams. The last time I saw you, in reality, was twenty-six days ago. The last time I saw you in my dreams was a few hours ago.
By Gerald Holmes5 years ago in Families
Talking with Dad
Sitting on a dried out log in the middle of a nearly empty beach on Hawai'i. Keanu looks out across the ocean to the setting sun. He lets out a deep sigh.
By Zachary Lencioni5 years ago in Families
“The Sweetest Bouquet of a Little Blackbird”
Sammy ran her fingers across the spines of the small collection of her mother’s favorite books that had been tucked away on her preferred shelf. Her fingers danced across their titles like fingers on a piano and out of her lips poured a sort of song. “Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book by Better Homes & Gardens, 1,000 Vegetarian Recipes by Carol Gelles, The Food Almanac by Miranda York,” her voice trailed. The last one was new. She wondered to herself when her mother had added it. Peeling it off the shelf she fingered lightly through its pages. One of the corners of one of the pages had a crease in it. Sammy read the heading aloud, “Quince.” She repeated it to herself and pondered it before continuing, “A much mistaken fruit”.
By Autumn Rain5 years ago in Families
The Listless Lovers
Cool and damp, scent of mold in the air Not a place to meet your lover Not a place to fall in love or Get lost in another’s stare
By James Smith5 years ago in Families
Grief is for the grieving
I was raised in a community where when someone passed away, the focus was on doing whatever you could to encourage the grieving family who is left behind. It seems that things have changed over the decades or perhaps I am only now becoming acquainted with those of different personalities. Since the death of my husband I have been overwhelmed by individuals who seem to borderline on being narcissistic and attempt to use me as a platform for their own personal sounding board. Some seem to think I am their pet project.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in Families