family
Family unites us; but it's also a challenge. All about fighting to stay together, and loving every moment of it.
Love Letters from Heather
It is February, Valentine’s month. I have never been a big fan of the day. Always struck me as a day that put undue pressure on those coupled and undue sadness on those who aren’t. But the last two years I have really enjoyed Valentine’s Day—for the past two years the not-for-profit organization Brainstorm Revolution put on unique Valentine events that Shelley Hofer, Natalie Harris and I had the pleasure of orchestrating. The first presentation was a story-telling event at Barrie’s Five Points Theatre. The show was appropriately named Unconventional Love Stories, featuring true, out-of-the-ordinary accounts of the unexpected faces of love beyond the romantic realm. Then last year—last year!—the improv group the Yes Men entertained a sold-out crowd at Barrie’s Holiday Inn and Conference Centre, bringing the audience to both tears and laughter, raising thousands of dollars for our local hospital’s mental health department. We got the title right once again: Love and Laughter.
By Heather Down5 years ago in Humans
Her Love Notes
My dearest- I hope you are well. The last few months without you have been awful. I go through each day as if I'm a ghost in my own skin, wanting nothing more than to be with you. I never dreamed that I would end up here, with you thousands of miles-and another lifetime-away.
By Ashley Peters5 years ago in Humans
Choose To Keep Going
The end of 2019, the beginning of what I thought was the end. My ex husband and I separated, and I was now a single mom of two children with no idea where my life was headed, and no idea who I was. Laundry started piling up, dishes in the sink, house was always a mess, and all I could think about was drinking a bottle of wine when my kids went with their dad. I didn't want to face reality, and I just wanted to numb everything I was feeling and not deal with it.
By Lizzie Brooks5 years ago in Humans
The Little Black Book
THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK by Katie Melissa Eileen Melanson January 30, 2021. My grandmother spent a life unequalled in tragedy. Her first husband died of MS. Her second husband was completely beheaded in a car accident. Her brother was murdered with a shovel because he was gay. I apologize for sharing that, but it's the truth. At the end of the day, she had us. These stories only surfaced after her death. I was more sorry to hear of them than you. But I apologize none the less. There is enough sadness everywhere, already.
By Katie Melanson5 years ago in Humans
Childfree by choice
Here I am, 29 in a great relationship good friends and a good job.I feel pretty content with this point in my life and yet there is always a looming expectation or a young women in her prime of life. Baby making. A taboo subject if you don’t plan on giving your parent the grandkids they want.
By Laura sabatino5 years ago in Humans
Dark Side of Town
It’s the middle of October. Fallen leaves scatter the road. Cars speed by, forceful winds blow the leaves back into our yard. “Those cars drive too fast ‘round here!” yelled my grandfather. He doesn’t know that people don’t want to stay too long in our town. They’re scared.
By Zoe Suzanne5 years ago in Humans
The story of the Cat Lady
Well Mary was a divorced mother to six children.Brandon, William,Emily, Brian, Travis, and Nevaeh.She just ended her last relationship of seven years with James six months earlier,well her relationship was not real,turns out her boyfriend,James, was only with her because he wanted to have sex with her daughter from her previous marriage.There were signs that that was his intention,but Mary kept ignoring them and kept saying he loves me , he would never do that to me. Mary trusted him because she had a daughter , Nevaeh, with him and she loved him and thought he wanted to be a husband and father to her family.
By Mary Ellen5 years ago in Humans
The View
For the first time in nearly six years, it had snowed on the docks. The concrete walkways at this point had been soaked, causing Charlie to skid slightly as he entered the dormitories. While he had of course seen snow before, he was always pleasantly surprised when it snowed. In his own way, he saw snow as a sort of omen. Today was no different.
By Timucin Altan5 years ago in Humans
Tauntaun Headache
Last night, to save money, I slept in my Star Wars Tauntaun sleeping bag, under my sheets. Heating is very expensive in NYC. Now, the head of the bag is adorable. It’s not so great as a pillow. It gives you an epic headache. So I’m waking up on the first day of Mercury Retrograde with a Tauntaun headache and two cats in the bag with me.
By Dana Jensen5 years ago in Humans
A Very Special Birthday
Bobby sat on a rocky ledge overlooking the river that migrates over his parents domain. He was contemplating nature’s glorious design in these woods. He was only seven, but it seems that these woods change every trip he takes back here. His dog Ralphie always seems to find new territory to explore and new “toys” to play with.
By Michael Reynolds5 years ago in Humans
The Quest
The Quest Gail D Prentice Homeless, cold, and in desperate need of a bath, Ruby sat on the street corner holding her crudely crafted cardboard sign. The frigid cold drizzle on this particular overcast day had her twelve-year old body soaked and cold to the bone.
By Gail D Prentice5 years ago in Humans
