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.
Fire
She stood now, finally alone at the casket. Looking down at the small shriveled creature in the satin lined box, she felt no sense of relation. Mother....? It did not truly look anything like her mother. Actually, it more resembled the old woman at the grocery store they had gone to, long ago, in another place.
By Shannon Kantorowski5 years ago in Families
My Father, the Enigma. Top Story - November 2021.
Two years ago, my father died. Technically speaking, his passing was sudden -- but if you ask me, he had been impatiently waiting for his final breath from the very second his mother had taken hers. He made it two years and one day short of her birthday, and I’m convinced he left so abruptly because he couldn’t bring himself to sit through one more of her birthdays without her. Cancer was what eventually took him, and true to form it was a very rare, aggressive, and difficult-to-detect manifestation of the disease -- only something obscure would do, after all, for the man who repeatedly claimed his diabetes was not real and, instead, must have actually been something that science had not yet discovered.
By Kristy Ockunzzi-Kmit5 years ago in Families
The Elephant
The elephant stood tall, unashamed and bold. It stared me in the eyes without flinching, without blinking. I became fully aware that I was locked in a stare down contest so I casually looked away as if I was unaware of its intentions. It was too strong, too magnanimous to even try to stare down. I tried to divert my attention. I distracted the thoughts and directed the conversation toward the weather. That is always a good, solid easy path. Certainly not the rage filled mine field of religion and politics. A calm peaceful middle ground where even if you disagree on it, no one is that passionate about it to blow up, stomp out and lose touch. “It looks like rain again today”, I said with a confidence that was built on the foundation of the dark rain clouds overhead and the low crackle of thunder in the distance.
By Michael Nash5 years ago in Families
Life and Death in Ocean Reef
The young believe they are invincible. They believe they can take great chances and great risks. Their concept of death is that it is something that happens to others. It is something that affects old people, never them. But this foolhardiness, sadly, sometimes becomes hubris. And it comes back to bite them.
By Marco den Ouden5 years ago in Families
Whispers of Strangers
The evening was shaping up to be a typical work night consisting of hospital admission reports for me to transcribe, flowing in as audio files and flowing out as perfectly formatted medical reports. Their subjects consisted of crumpled people, many far past their humane expiration date; most hospitalized with pneumonia, cancer, or kidney failure; some clinging to life on respirators, others facing the great unknown with courage and dignity. Yes, the night was nothing extraordinary, simply a typical night.
By Steph Millett5 years ago in Families
Can you tell me the address to heaven?
When I was in sixth grade, I participated in an afterschool astronomy club. I was very shy as a little girl but there was something about the night sky that would light up my soul. I loved learning about all the constellations and planets. I could stare into the vast darkness for hours. Hoping to catch a glimpse of a falling star. My wishes were stacked and ready, just in case.
By Crystal Rae5 years ago in Families
Two Pink Lines Taken Away
You never think it will happen to you. It's not even a thought in your mind. You look down and see those two pink lines or that digital "pregnant" on the screen. You are filled with so much joy and it's all you can think about. Your mind goes straight to picking names, nursery plans, cute clothes, and all the good and beautiful things that happen when expecting a baby. You're over the moon and you've lost sight of Earth and all of its problems. You feel like nothing could bring you down because you're about to have the baby you've been trying for.
By kasey gresham5 years ago in Families
Would it be better?
"I know have to remember you longer than I have known you." A quote that has been stuck in my mind ever since I heard it. I don't know who it's by, but it's torn me to shreds. Never in my life did I ever imagine I would wake up one morning to the love of my life gone forever. Never did I imagine I would have to make that call to his parents, family and friends. He wasn't sick, he wasn't a "junkie", he was perfectly fine. The day before was a normal day. I woke up at 6AM to feed the cats and he woke up at 8. Which was odd for him since he usually slept until 1 or 2PM. But, I was happy he was up so early. More time to spend with him.
By Allison Marx 5 years ago in Families
Limerwent.
love We fucking Lost : let me go dancing in this heat than where are you from ? Falling in limerence. Have you ever felt lovesick? A desire so strong for someone that thoughts of them take up every moment of your day? Welcome to the world of limerence. We explore the complexities of love and limerence, life as a “limerent” and how to form
By Dawn Earnshaw5 years ago in Families
The Doing and the Undoing
We all grieve. And each of us grieves differently. As adult caregivers to our parents, we do what needs to be done. This is a glimpse into our story, because putting it to words helped me dissect the layers of not only grief but responsibility, not just sadness but the packing and unpacking of a life that was so dear to us.
By Catherine Kenwell5 years ago in Families
