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.
HOW TO SAY GOODBYE
I sold everything. Everything I could. It didn’t matter how old the antique it was, or how much sentimental meaning it held, I got rid of all of it. I left those pieces with each memory it held of her, what items possessed her energy. Neither good nor bad, simply her. Items worth $20,000, if even, it didn’t matter to me. It would have for her. They were her belongings after all, but she isn’t here. I am and I don’t want them. The woman I once looked up to with the highest of respect, with the uttermost love that a child could hold for a mother. The woman who looked down on me with disdain; I was not her perfect child, I never would be. But she would still tell me she loved me, and maybe that was enough. Even though I wouldn’t hear it for a long time.
By Alistair C.5 years ago in Families
Little Black Book
After a long night of working, I was exhausted. When the bus I arrived, I headed to the back so I could stretch out. Normally at 6am, there were few, or no people on the bus. I set my alarm to wake me up in forty five minutes since the ride home was an hour. When my alarm went off it startled me, my phone dropped. When I bent over to retrieve my phone I noticed a little black book. I looked around to see if anyone dropped it, but I was still the only one on the bus. I stuffed the book in my bag. After I got to my hotel room, I got myself together and sat down to relax. I opened my bag and looked inside the book to see if there was any information to let me know who this book belonged to. After reading it, I became a little curious. The contents of the book went like so, “Every 24 hours from the initial time after you have found this book, $20,000 will appear. However, there are four rules you must follow each day or there will be consequences. You will still get the money as long as the book is in your possession. However, if you break the rules, you must accept the outcome as well. The first rule is that you must always have the book on you. The second rule is you must be in before sunset. The third rule is you cannot speak to anyone while in possession of this book. The last rule is that you cannot spend any of the money until you put the book back. You cannot destroy the book. When you feel you have had enough, you simply place the book back in a place where someone else can find it. If you are willing to participate, follow the rules and you will be fine. Remember the RULES!” At first, I thought to myself this can’t be real. Then, on the other hand if it turns out to be true, I knew I needed the money to help Stacey (my daughter) to get the surgery she needed. I already had $150,000 coming from the sale of the house. Her surgery is $250, 000, So, if I keep this book just 5 days, I will be able to get my daughter back. After some thinking, I just put the book on the table and went to bed.
By Christina McIntire5 years ago in Families
The Passing.
21st January 2021 The oul man passed four days ago. The on lookers, both friends and family lined either side of the streets. Crows on a telephone wire. The smooth pined pressed firmly down against six shoulders, each one holding the other up with his own emptiness. I watched those who gathered around bowed their head in respect. The air hung moist with dew, and the frost speckled the tarmacked pavements which created a shimmer in the low light of the morning. He would’ve been proud of us, as we always were of him. Such a grafter. Never workshy or lazy. Four o’clock in the morning, up and out, back for tea at six. That was always the way of it. God, I have to laugh, if he could see us now, he would be wondering what had gotten us all down. The black masses of black suits, black ties and black moods, the old black dog was surely mixing through the crowd. But he’d still be smiling. The long walk began from the house to the chapel began; a chorus of marching feet met the road with matching rhythm. We wept silently, held our heads up high and tried to make you proud. Were you proud of how we stood? Shoulder to shoulder, holding one another up with the chains of mutual grief. The slow rolling sound of the wet tires on the black chapel tarmac seemed to be magnified tenfold in the silence as we approached the station from which we would accompany you on your last journey. The marble floors, high stone walls and wooden pews seemed daunting. I whispered to ma, “Are you okay”, she squeezed my hand and nodded, a pillar of strength in this time of grief. And we never appreciated that enough. The chorus of beautiful voices serenaded the ceremony and ushered us into a new way of life. Not one which we wished to enter, but the hand was dealt, as they sang, we walked the aisle a final time we came to terms. The service was beautiful, everything was just as he would have liked it. The final walk seemed like a dream, we moved as if we were attempting to walk under water. We knew what was coming, yet we did not wish to see it. His body was bore down, and as the brass handled pine was passed from flesh to earth, we felt a sense of ease.
By Kevin Christopher Canavan5 years ago in Families
A Mother's Love
I know you're not going to believe this although sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. It was a cold day in February and Mom wasn't feeling well. She has been on oxygen for the last few years, as she has been suffering from COPD. Mom asked if I could come by because she had something for me. I hopped in my car and drove the 10 blocks to mom's house. When I got there she didn't get up from her spot at the table, she just yelled for me to come in and by the way she yelled I could tell she wasn't getting the oxygen she needed. I quickly went inside and asked if she was OK.
By Corena Dixon5 years ago in Families
DAD'S SURPRISE
It had been almost 11 months since Dad passed away and Treniah was feeling a little anxious and sad, knowing that she had to return to her childhood home town to get together with her siblings, mother, auntie and a few close cousins. She was excited and looking forward to seeing her cousins because they all grew up so close, closer than most siblings. Also when they got together they would tell old stories of growing up, singing and dancing and playing games at Treniah’s childhood home. Her dad was family driven, everything he did was strictly for family. He was the one that everyone turned to in times of trouble or a loan here and there, after his parents passed away years earlier. He stepped out on faith one day, walked off his job as a Foreman and started his own business. He helped to care for his aunts and uncles, sometimes taking long road trips to visit and see to their welfare. That was the type of person he was which is why his death left a great void in the lives of his family. Treniah wanted nothing more than to continue his legacy of a strong family bond. So it’s her hope and dreams to have a home big enough to host her family for the annual family reunion, just as her dad did for so many years. You see, her dad was ill during the time when last year’s reunion should have been and so, there hasn’t been a reunion in two years.
By Beverly P. Lindsey5 years ago in Families
The Fortune
When Lola told her parents she wanted to see a fortune teller, her father told her she was crazy. Her mother told her to be careful. Nevertheless, Lola went. She didn’t really think it was going to mean anything anyway. Just a distraction from her life. Maybe a faux sign that everything was going well or, at least, would be in the not-so-distant future.
By Morgan Galvez5 years ago in Families
Angel Mom
It all starts when we hear those beeps coming together as a beautiful rhythm that instantly has us falling in love with the simple thought of you. As you become everything we ever dream of; the reason we work harder than ever before. Every effort, thought, and waking moment is spent trying to make it better for your arrival. Then one day something feels "off"; we don't feel you here with us anymore. We go to the Doctor just to be told that you are gone before we even get to meet. All the love that we hold in our heart for you then turns to grief as we try to process the thought of never meeting you. As you walk from the office to your vehicle, trying to see through the tears; you really can’t help but to think, Why me? Was I not good enough to be a “Real” Mother? What was I doing so wrong?
By Becca Sipes5 years ago in Families
Charlotte
12/03/2020 How does one start a journal? I'm not going to say ‘dear diary’, I can tell you that. Maybe a simple hello? This is my first time writing things down so bear with me. I was told putting pen to paper may help the healing process by my counsellor, but I'm not so sure. It's been almost a year since Charlotte died and nothing seems to help, so here we are. I suppose I should say exactly what happened as a form of catharsis for myself. She was hit by a drunk driver walking home from work, only a few streets away. I swear I heard the collison; the screech of tires and sirens. When she didn’t walk through the door at her normal hour, a knot formed in my throat. A police officer turned up at my door-step, not long after. I don’t remember much after that. I think I cried into his chest. Even now writing this down I feel empty. I miss her more than anything, she was my first girlfriend straight out of highschool. We’ve been together- or rather we were together sorry, for 14 years. Those were the happiest 14 years of my life, we were perfect for each other in every way.
By Miles Prower5 years ago in Families
Mr. Chance's Little black book
"Hello Honey, I just wanted to wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day and tell Stacey Happy Birthday. I am so sorry that I was not able to get an earlier flight home. My business meeting lasted longer than scheduled. I am headed to the airport now, hopefully I will be there by the time you finish getting manicures and pedicures. I hope you have a wonderful day together love you both dearly."
By Greer Collins5 years ago in Families
The Artist
At 2:30 in the afternoon, Ella sat back on her haunches and wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. Despite the earliness of the afternoon, the little attic apartment that had once housed her mother was already sweltering. She laid the last book from the empty bookcase on top of its companions in the box in front of her and got up to open the window. How could her mother live like this? Ella sighed. How many times had she asked that question in her life?
By Jessica McCulla5 years ago in Families
Left with Memories
Juliet Eden stretched her arms and her legs in her private cabin on the train after her long session of "writer's block". She chose the Amtrak Southwest Chief train, because it would take her about a day and a half to get to Albuquerque, and she needed the time to write, and also prepare for the days lying ahead.
By Lacey Gatewood5 years ago in Families
