humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
The girl on the ground
1985 I am 5 years old. I am an awfully timid insecure little girl even at this age. I feel the awkwardness of my entire being deeply in my bones, and not just my bones do I feel, I feel the bones of every one else in my mum’s weekly G.I.R.S. group. Here they meet, misfit adults talking amongst each other for hours sharing their broken lives.
By Harmony McMaster5 years ago in Humans
The Old Wise Man From The Woods
Not so long ago in a land far away there once was a wise man who came from far away. A stately man by outward appearances. Silver gray hair and beard to match, standing 6ft. 2 with eyes a piercing blue. The weathered look of his face showed years of overcoming struggles to survive. And, yet there was an eerie inner peace that seemed to glow whenever he smiled.
By Dr. Williams5 years ago in Humans
Bad Girl House
In the fall of 1995, I was going to go to college at the University of Akron. I had been accepted into the University, but I still needed to be accepted into the School of Music where I would be studying to become a music teacher. It was already mid-summer, and I hadn’t registered for my classes yet because, I was waiting to see what I should actually sign up for. Perspective music students had to audition to be accepted into the School of Music. I was hoping that my voice at least had the potential to be accepted. Even though I had been playing the piano for most of my life, I knew that I wasn’t good enough to compete at the college level. Since I wanted to teach choirs, I was auditioning to be a voice major. I was required to present two songs to the School of Music’s voice faculty. More often than not, I was the accompanist instead of the singer, and I definitely was not a confident soloist. Luckily, I did have one song that I felt comfortable with. I had sang it at a high school event where students receive ratings on their performances from local music teachers. I had gotten the highest possible rating, and it was the only classical solo piece I had ever learned.
By Kathy Sees5 years ago in Humans
Scenes from a Café
There she sits same place, day by day. She orders the same thing every day, coffee, cream, three sugars and raisin toast with a liberal smearing of cream cheese. She sits there smug in her own superiority wearing her black designer suits and reading the finical reports, her cell phone always on the ready.
By Craig Robertson5 years ago in Humans
Dinner guests
It is snowing outside, big puffy flakes. The sky wasn’t quite dark, the house was. “I should start dinner, “she thought, the quiet luring her in, the clumps of snow remind her of huddling teenagers. She was grateful that the snow just allowed her to be there, her presence unnoticed. She feels a sense of safety in the anonymity like wearing only lingerie under a ski coat, no one knows what’s there.
By Claire Hunter5 years ago in Humans
Mandy V the Pretty Wreckless Queen
"I created a monster cause nobody wants to see Marshal no more, they want Shady I'm chopped liver" I guess thats something I could relate to. I feel like I'm Mandy, yet Pretty Wreckless. The Mandy in me is a Cosmetologist, Mother of 3, with an angel baby, a wife and master of panic attacks. Meanwhile, Pretty Wreckless is on Probation, just got out of jail and is struggling to grieve over the loss of her Ex who committed suicide all the while trying to stop the thought of her fathers suicide attempt from racing through her mind. Then there is her brother, Jeremy, who is in jail looking at some very serious jail time. Take me back to a time where we played as kids because as Tupac said 'Things Change and thats just the way that is it'. So fast forward to me at 31 turning 32 in the Spring. Life on the outside looks like a dream. I am married with three beautiful boys. My oldest son Benjamin I am hella proud to say that I have coached his soccer team twice, once as an assistant coach then later taking the reigns as head coach was fun for awhile but maybe I'm better off being a spectator, Lord knows my husband would rather have me on the sidelines to tackle my ambitious 4 year old Levi who thinks he can run unto the soccer field and chase after the ball with Ben. Then there is my adorable 2 year old Luke, who just today got a new hair cut by his brother Levi while Mommy was out at the Gym and doing the tanning thing trying to get all my errands ran before my oldest gets out of school thinking it would be cool for them to hang out with Dad for a bit... Note to self: the whole damn house will fall apart when Mama is gone, but hey isnt that what makes a family so great? I'd be lying out my ass if I was going to tell you how fucking happy I am because the truth is Mama Bear struggles with anxiety, depression, and Bi Polar Disorder. How is that for a tri fecta? I have found out since the loss of my son, Corbin Jonathan Vermillion, that mental illness is no joke. When My husband and I lost our son Corbin I was hit with so many emotions. I couldn't get out of bed for days and even the most beautiful days seemed dull and grey. My husband and I were planning a wedding in December (Crazy I Know) and Corbin was suppose to be our ring bearer along side of his big brother Ben but unfortunately on November 1st, tragedy struct and we woke up to find our baby boy not breathing. Losing a baby is a trauma I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. We managed to pick up all the pieces of our broken hearts and pushed forward and I am ever so thankful we managed to find the courage to try again because in the tragedy that was losing my son Corbin I was then blessed with a rainbow baby Levi and as you already know soon followed by bouncing baby Luke. My Daddy always told me God worked in mysterious ways and I guess he was right. Thats right, yours truly is a preachers daughter. Most will laugh and say that is no wonder why I have turned to so many wreckless ways as it is no secret around here that I have struggled with a very dysfunctional relationship when I was younger that introduced me to drugs and many bad bahaviors. My oldest sons Dad and I almost were together for a decade and although current day him and I have managed to work out a shared parenting agreement and I'm happy to say he completely turned his life around and for the most part we can act like civil adults for the sake of our son. Unfortunately he was the downfall that introduced me to Pretty Wreckless. I spent alot of my younger 20 years smoking weed and snorting percocet but 'Fuck it!" I was prescribed it so it was okay right? WRONG. It wasnt my stay at Rehab that has enlightened me to a sober me but years of hard work and alot of the time I felt like I was failing miserably but its true what they say 'One Day at a time'. I'm slowly getting my act together and learning how to live life on lives terms, but the struggle is all too real. All of that being said I am happy to say life is turning out to be rather pleasant these days. I wrote a book about my angel baby Corbin and it made it through the publishing process and now I just need to read over the manuscript and financially fund it and it will be available on amazon and paperback. I have really been fortunate to live out my Salon dreams but after all my beauty school bliss I am finding that it is music that I am most drawn to. For my five year marriage anniversary my husband surprised me with hella dope sound equipment and a new laptop as well as touch screen monitors and bangin' speakers. I am hoping to find the time to record the music that I have wrote and hopefully teach myself how to play guitar. I have had some friends give me a few pointers here and there and I have Rocksmith on Xbox but I can tell you I haven't put in as much effort to learn as I would like to because, LIFE! Who the fuck knows anyways just yesterday I was filling out my application to go back to school and become a substance abuse counselor, Lord knows I know my way around a few drugs and if I could turn my mistakes into power to help others then hell to the Yes! So heres to being me, Mandy V the Pretty Wreckless Queen.
By Mandy Vermillion5 years ago in Humans
The Little Black Book
The little black book was an unexpected discovery in the pile of belongings Lara’s estranged grandfather had left to her. It had arrived in a plain heartless manila envelope sandwiched between stacks of papers full of plain heartless legal words that hardly echoed the man she thought she remembered. It stood in stark contrast against the sea of white papers strewn about the table as Lara tried to make sense of what was left of the life of a man she had hardly known.
By Ellie Hoovs5 years ago in Humans
Trash and Treasures
Joselyn found herself in a dumpster, anxiously digging for something while using all the curse words at once. Then it struck her that she had no clue what she was looking for. This realization paired with the pungent aroma made her chuckle, since that was a suitable metaphor for her life. Standing knee-deep in the neighborhood filth, unsure of what she was searching for- now that was poetic! Joselyn’s twisted but upbeat perception of life helped her get through tough times. As she kept digging, she slowly realized she was dreaming. She then saw a small black notebook laying open on the other end of the dumpster. The open page read, “You must abolish all fear to receive the true gifts of life”.
By Jenna Whyatt5 years ago in Humans
