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 Beach House
Normally Tracy loved being at her grandparents beach house, even in the winter. It was her favorite place to be. Staying with Grams and Pops all summer and some Christmases was her greatest joys growing up. Coming here felt like coming home, even empty, the same scents still lingered in the air of cinnamon, pipe tobacco and rose water, grams perfume. Memories rushed to the surface of laughter, adventure and family. Today those memories were crowding close and she found herself continually blinking back the burning tears that threatened to overflow. Tracy had come back to the old beach house to clean out her grandparents things. They were suddenly gone and coming to the beach house would never be the same. She looked out the big bay window that overlooked the beach. The waters were choppy and turbulent, as though they mirrored her inner turmoil.
By Jeronn Russell5 years ago in Families
Ángeles entre nosotros
Twenty-two year old Reyza Garcia stood at the fence that surrounded his family’s 200-acre ranch in southeast Texas. All of this had been his father’s dream ever since their family had migrated to the Three Rivers area from Mexico in the late 1970s. His eyes caressed the gently rolling hills and lush pasturelands he had always called home. He thought of the man who had poured his sweat, blood, and tears into all that was before him as Reyza's own tears rolled down his cheeks to drop on this sacred ground.
By Carole Lisa Myers5 years ago in Families
The Gift
Every day is ordinary until it isn’t. It was April 5th. My husband and I had woken up a short time earlier and were slowly trudging our way through our morning routine. From the kitchen, he shouted, “Did you feed the cats?” I called out, “Yes. Did you pay the cable bill?” Other such romantic sentiments were exchanged throughout the morning. I had just put the toothbrush globed with too much paste into my mouth when my husband exclaimed, “We have a problem.” Uh oh. Even though I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, I started to recount every little thing I had done, ever. “What kind of problem?” I garbled. White foamy spit hit the mirror. “There’s an extra $20,000 in our bank account. I went to pay the cable bill, and there’s just, there’s just so much money in the account,” he said, shocked. I spat out all the toothpaste, not even bothering to brush. “Uh, what? Where did it come from?” I yelled. A moment later he poked his head around the bathroom door, his eyes soft, mouth slightly downturned. “The note on the account transfer says it’s from aunty M.”
By Melissa Sloos5 years ago in Families
The Bequest
The Bequest It feels heavy in my hands, this small notebook. It’s soft but it could burn me. It’s black but I close my eyes against its luminescence. It invites me to open it, but its simplicity repels me. Because I know what’s inside. As soon as I open its covers, the secrets will start spilling out, spilling over me, searing my skin and making my eyes and nose water with their acrid odour.
By Roxanne Bodsworth5 years ago in Families
Helping Hand
There is nothing worse than losing someone. Especially if that someone is part of your family. And when that family member has known you for a large chunk of your life, it makes it all that much harder. But it is nothing compared to watching that family member waste away as cancer slowly shuts them down, you almost wish for their death. That guilt after the thought is horrible. Almost as horrible as the death itself.
By Kate Moore5 years ago in Families
A Glimpse into the Future
A Glimpse into the Future She had lived with him almost three-quarters of her life. They met when they were a freshman and a senior in college, were married a year later and spent the next fifty-three years walking hand-in-hand down life’s many paths.
By Joan Kershaw Fischer5 years ago in Families
Journal 2/19
"This is ridiculous, what I am doing here, I'm in the wrong story!" Musical lyrics get stuck in my head sometimes. Jarring phrases and dissonant music, mostly from those most discordant moments in the musicals which made up my high school experience. They were compatible with my soul at the time, and they only begin to echo when my life hits the skids.
By Elizabeth Callison5 years ago in Families
Life Is Changed, Not Ended.
It was a gloomy day. August 9th 2018. The day I lost the one person who understood me best. My grandfather was a man a very few words. He was born in Fulton, Kentucky. He served 28 years in the United States Army as a E8 Sargent. He enlisted at 18 years old. Shortly after, him and my grandmother were set up on a blind date. A marvelous blind date if I must say, as he flew her to Hawaii. From there was history, she moved from her home in Louisville, Kentucky to travel the United States with him. While serving, my grandmother blessed him with three children. My father was the second born child, first born son. He served two tours in Vietnam, three tours in Germany, and one tour in Korea. Once he retired, he and my grandmother made their way back to Kentucky. The settled in Louisville for a time. There, he took a profession as an insurance agent. They would then, find their selves in Knoxville, Tennessee. His next stop on his journey, would be where he stayed, Newport, Tennessee. He then married his second wife, and had his fourth child. In Newport, once he retired as an insurance agent, he became a self - employed business owner. He had several offices in multiple counties across East Tennessee. He won a battle against Cancer in his time as well. He had a total of four grandchildren, and two great granddaughters. I was the second to the youngest of his grandchildren, but the closest to him out of my cousins. As I get older, I'm beginning to realize we were similar in subtle ways. We would text from time to time. Never passed up an opportunity to have a conversation with him on the phone. He lived about an hour away, and always had. My favorite was the surprise visits! It never failed, he wouldn't mention it. He would wait until he was about 15 minutes away, call and say he was stopping by. He somehow always knew when he could catch us. I always engaged in conversations when the chance was at hand. Always accepted his lunch, or dinner invitations. In the time before his health declined, I always thought I spent as much time with him as I could. We would text from time to time. That unfortunately, wasn't the case. Perhaps it never is, for anyone. I sit over two and a half years after he has passed with so many wonders. Full of the questions I didn't ask, or didn't think were important enough to ask. I honestly do not think I ever considered that as I was growing in age, he was too. My grandfather was a man always in motion. Moving on to the next task, anything to occupy his time in a positive way. He volunteered in more than 3 organizations, at 82 years old, faithfully. He never stopped. I was granted 20 beautiful years with him, yet it wasn't enough time. I never wanted him to suffer in pain, as he deserved peace. Maybe, I could have used the time I did have with him wiser. Maybe we go through life, with little to no direction in many things. We are always on the go, everything seems rushed, mediocre. I loved my grandfather dearly, he was my rock. Looking back now, I wish I would have planned my time with him. Put the phone down, the texts, social media, all would remain. However, he would eventually not. Its the little things, good and bad. Hug your grandparents close. Talk with them, even if it is something you absolutely cringe at, I promise you that will mean more to them than anything. Ask questions. Be present, always. I hope, whoever comes across this, gets a sense of comfort. Even if it wasn't a grandparent for you. Deaths time, is not, and never will be our friend.
By Hailey Barker5 years ago in Families
