extended family

All about how to stay connected, strengthen ties and talk politics with your big, happy extended family.

A Different Kind of "We"
#vanlife Not a hashtag I thought I'd ever be using. Some days it was sunsets, coastlines, and beautiful mountain views. Some days not so much. I woke up this morning when the sun started peeking through the gap in the window curtain. My little mini-me was still snuggled in my armpit, snoozing away. I gazed around the "room". Really, the inside of our van, sort of renovated into a quasi-camper situation, but not really. My mind started to drift off into that tangled web of memories I lately have been trying to avoid.
By KayCee Cooper6 years ago in Families
Would you read a book with the title – ‘The Story of Your Life from Beginning to End?’
Today was one of those weird ‘if’ days. If the lady from Rose Cottage had not had a stroke she would have been at home. If she had been at home, her neighbour would not have been feeding her dog. If her neighbour wasn’t feeding her dog, he wouldn’t have left her garden gate open. If he hadn’t left the gate open the dog wouldn’t have run out. If the dog hadn’t run out the car wouldn’t have swerved onto the other side of the road and crashed into the bus I was taking to work.
By Gail Wood6 years ago in Families
She Wasn’t Supposed to Die Alone
“Who’s your companion?” Manang Marisol asked me whenever we spoke on the phone. It was always the first question she’d ask during our weekly phone chats when I wasn’t able to see her in person. I’d usually answer with whoever was at home at the time: “Bong is here, Manang,” referring to my older brother, “Mama is sleeping…Papa is at a poker game.” Manang always wanted to know where everyone was. After she received my report, she asked the second most important thing she needed to know: “Have you eaten?” or “Kumain ka na ba?” It was among the handful of Tagalog phrases she taught us when she took care of us as kids.
By C Apeles6 years ago in Families
Her Little Black Book
It’s rare when the reading of a will is the highlight of your day. Jenny felt guilty about it but not much had been going well for her recently.
By Brian Jantzi6 years ago in Families
I'll See You Again
Daphne walks quickly towards the twenty four floor tower of doom as the February wind picks up a bit. She pulls her hat down and adjust the scarf around her neck. She looks up at the Water Fall Retirement Home and smiles. Maybe not smile. Sneer. Daphne sneers at the the place she has worked for the past seventeen years. Its been bittersweet and that was okay because that is life. Some days are good and some days are bad. Some shifts are great and some shifts are just horrible. Either way, you live to work another shift. And Daphne's shift was the second shift. She loved the second shift. She wasn't a morning person. She would probably be late everyday ( she barely made it to work by 3:00). There is not a whole lot of doctors and 'big wigs' in her way while she is trying to provide care for the patients. By 5:30, the heads are gone and now she can work relaxed and at her own pace. Daphne actually loved her job. Being a healthcare provider was very rewarding to her. Yes, the job could be overwhelming, exhausting and sometimes messy. Very messy. But Daphne loved her job. She loved taking care of the patients. She loved talking to them, learning about their lives and their families. And as much as Daphne loved her residents they loved here in return. On Daphne's days off, they would miss her. And Daphne knew this because she would hear it from the patients. And some of the other workers. One or two of the coworkers always had an envious tone. Hey, that is some of the bitterness in the bittersweet.
By Lisa Woodlyn6 years ago in Families
Real Family
Family does not have to be defined by blood, at least, that was and is the opinion of Eileen O’Shaughnessy, a mother of five children, two which were on the autism spectrum. Having been adopted herself, she never met her biological parents, and was woman that was always down on her luck financially, with her husband John never being around. He was addicted to his job and never around to help raised the five kids, leaving Eileen to bear the burden of parenthood as a solo act.
By Patrick Coleman6 years ago in Families
Uncle Herman's Last Request
“Bridget and Lena, I am meeting with you today because I am executor of Herman McCain's last will and testament. As you know, your uncle passed away earlier this year.” Mark Smith looked from one cousin to the other.
By K6 years ago in Families
Tell Every One, Tell No One
Monday the 7th of December 2079 6:30 AM - My Apartment The sound of an alarm hurls me out of my own bed. Today’s the big day ! Today’s such a big day that I haven’t been able to sleep a wink. Speaking at a funeral can be a daunting task for a first timer. Especially when the task at hand implies that I need to speak of the most amazing man I knew in front of a couple hundred of his closest friends and family. My grandfather was many things, a good man, a father of three and a wonderful husband.
By Olivia Plante6 years ago in Families
Brownies and Tennis
LITTLE BLACK BOOK Rose is watching TV enjoying her dinner when she's interrupted by a knock at the door. Due to her husband passing, kids moving away she has not had company in over 15 years and becomes startled and hesitant. Against her judgement she goes to the door looking through the peephole. To her surprise it is Hannah, a 15 year old with two big red curly puffs, freckles, and a charm bracelet with "H" on it. Rose opens the door. "Hi I'm Hannah, your new neighbor. I was wondering if I could get my ball that went into your yard?" She's a tennis player for her highschool team. Rose responds with "Yea sure go get it" in a very monotone nonchalant way. Being the bright bubbly kid she is, Hannah smiles, says thank you and begins to retrieve the ball.
By Takila Wiley6 years ago in Families
One Page Left
A man by the name of Paul walks into a bookstore looking for a music book to buy to help create his next song. Paul finds the music book he is looking for. He also browses a bit more looking for a notepad to write his notes and lyrics for his new songs. He walks around the store and finds a pile of colorful books and one stands out. A little black book. No text on the outside and no text inside. Immediately Paul finds his second find. Paul is taken by the simplicity of the black book and makes his final purchase.
By Cynthia Appleby6 years ago in Families
Family History
Rummaging through the cherry wood trunk, her fingers reached the bottom. She let out a small sound of exasperation as her fingers brushed the cold, smooth surface of yet another yellow Fenton bell speckled with purple spots. It wasn’t there. She didn’t know exactly what she was looking for, but she knew it couldn’t be another one of her grandfather’s glass trinkets.
By Destanie Sweeney6 years ago in Families
A page of her
I must have seemed hysterical to these men, a teen-aged pregnant girl, sobbing and screaming and tearing things from their hands as they moved like rats through our small home. Boxes of things spilled all over the rooms, my eyes swollen and dark as if I’d been whacked, and although I knew what was going on, I wondered, how did this happen? There wasn’t much I could do to help the situation besides collect scattered beads that moments ago formed a lovely scene of sky and sun. I imagined the many hours it took her to string the beads into a belt and I felt sad..mad too and useless to do anything more but to make two piles, one yellow, one blue.
By kealan sullivan6 years ago in Families