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.
The List
It’s strange to think that someone’s whole life can fit in a few medium sized Home Depot boxes. Especially when that person is my wife. She cannot be categorised or defined. She cannot be described. Yet all of her now sits before me, neatly packed away.
By Damian Madden5 years ago in Families
Armed Golf
I have often thought while playing a round of golf about all the horror and hell that has been plotted, dealt, and then easily forgotten on the course. Rank businessmen and corrupt politicians carving up parts of the world, dealing in oil and rare minerals, then slicing one more drive and another fat chunker-- all the while bombs being dropped on some country most of us couldn’t identify if we were air dropped there ourselves. Presidents authorizing air raids and then atrociously ripping drives down into some swath of trees. This game has truly been the thoroughfare of blood and war. For me, it was just a nice way to compete with my older brother.
By Tim McDonough5 years ago in Families
The Key
Life has a way of throwing many curve balls. No one knows this better than I. Fifteen years ago, both my parents' life was swiftly and tragically snuffed out, leaving me the “text book” orphan at the tender age of three. I don’t remember much of them...only faint echoes of my mother's contagious laughter and my father’s hypnotic singing voice that would lull me to sleep. Mom was in the final stages of expecting the little brother I never knew. While in their haste to hurry to the hospital to deliver him, their truck was hit by a drunk driver, killing all involved. People all over town said this was the day that turned my beautiful Nan’s hair completely white from the excruciating shock and sadness she had endured that day. She said she kept it that way as a morose reminder of how frail and precious life always was. I was lucky to be left to the mercy of my beautiful Nan and her free spirit kid brother, Uncle Moe. If it truly wasn’t for these two, I surely would have had a cursed life. Uncle Moe was near my father’s age when he was forced to taking on the role of “Dad” to me, and was around for most of the important life stages - like teaching me to ride a bike (much to my Nan’s chagrin) and how to climb the old oak tree like a chimp in order to reach our ponds swing rope where I ultimately learned to master the biggest splash that could be heard from miles away. That's where my bravery ended, and stagnated once I set foot off our property line. As I got older, he started taking off on occasion to travel and dirt dig, not surprising...as it was always in our blood line. My family’s ancestry was filled with all sorts of professions involving numerous great adventures... archaeologists(like Uncle Moe), engineers, and many high-ranking brave military career members. Nonetheless, I was destined and most reluctant to follow in their foot steps.
By Jennifer Bowers5 years ago in Families
A Dent in Time
Ray lay sprawled across her bed staring at the wall. The same small dent that had bothered her for years caught her eye. She stared at it mindlessly not truly observing, lost in her own head. Her thoughts travelled far beyond the tiny blemish on the wall. They moved over the past several years. Memories – good, bad, ugly – all flashing below as she glided over them. Even as a bystander from above, she could see no explainable reason for the way her life went.
By Hillary Tutton5 years ago in Families
The Settlement
It wasn’t as though I didn’t need the money. I had university debts and a house loan to pay off, and 55k a year could only stretch so far. But it was hard to look at the cheque with anything other than disdain when it had come as a result of my mother’s death. I believe the term they used was a wrongful death settlement. To me, it was a get out of jail free card.
By Amy Tredgett5 years ago in Families
A Angel's Grief
I woke up in a sweat, bruised and battered from the inside out. Only to awaken into my real-life nightmare. Another creditor, asking for five thousand dollars. Money was the last of my worries. A picture on the nightstand tore my heart ablaze. I touched the side where the man in the photograph used to sleep, snoring soundly.
By Honey Rachelle Graham 5 years ago in Families
A Little Black Book
There was so much stuff to go through. Kate had wanted to start sorting things while her father was sick, but there was simply not enough time for that. Now that the funeral was over, all she felt was emptiness. Looking around the house, she felt completely overwhelmed. Where should she start?
By Kathleen Jones5 years ago in Families
Goodbye, Mom
I saw her today. My mother. She had always been an exquisite beauty, what with her midnight locks and her radiant copper skin. My childhood friends could hardly believe we were related on the few occasions that any of them met her. I am twenty-two years old now; and to this day, I have yet to encounter a woman who was even half as lovely. Seeing her laying in total stillness today, looking so serene, my mother could easily have been taken for a carving of a goddess.
By Chris Doherty5 years ago in Families
