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.
Sketches
Annie searched the lists for several days until she found the entry. When she had begun, she certainly hadn’t expected a reward. Still, she had wondered to find something so precious in a thrift store, and she had decided that someone might want it. So, Annie Jacobson skimmed through website classifieds, convinced she would find a desperate soul searching for the book.
By Carmi Cason6 years ago in Families
Four pandemic postcards
I. Dear Helen, I learned, as your daughter, that the sorrow that shadowed your beauty and light came in part from being born three months after your father, Antoni, died at age 40 of the Spanish flu, official cause of death pneumonia, in February 1920, at the tail end of the pandemic. It was said that Antoni may have built his own coffin; he was employed at a casket factory. At the time of your birth, your newly widowed mother, Josephine, had two other daughters under three, spoke no English, worked as a maid.
By Marjory Zaik6 years ago in Families
Some Kids
Jimmy was a child with some anger issues and other behavioural problems. In the first grade, I remember him being the only kid in class that threw tantrums and beat on his desk with his fists. The teachers pretended not to notice. If he ever caught us snickering at his fits, he’d laugh and beat on the desk harder, reveling in the attention.
By Grant Whitehurst6 years ago in Families
Blanket
I was seven the first time I learned about death. The cold finality of it all surrounded me like a blanket, keeping me company the remaining days of my life. I remember the coffin, light blue with brass handles. The flowers—lilies, evocative of death—covered every possible surface filling the church with their strong, honey-laced aroma. I watched as the adults stood in hushed groupings going over the details of her demise.
By That Writer Chick6 years ago in Families
A Priceless Inheritance
Knock. Knock. Knock. “Stella? You up?” I heard the muffled words and pulled the blanket over my head. I heard the door open and the sound of footsteps across the floor. The metal raking against metal was like nails on a chalkboard as a stream of light illuminated the floral pattern on my blanket.
By Milica McMillen6 years ago in Families
I just want want to say ‘’Hi Dad’’.
I remember this day clearly, like it was yesterday and I took this picture of my Dad. I remember seeing him go into the cement pier on his own like he wanted to go for a swim, which he hadn’t done in too many years due to his above knee leg amputation and diabetes wounds on his remaining leg. My Dad was a proud man that was never satisfied with anything that made him feel weak or less than anyone else. Since his first heart attack and leg amputation he had changed to someone I did not recognize. He was weak but he always tried hard to push himself to be able to do more, I don’t think his heart helped him at all after the second attack.
By Lori Estrada6 years ago in Families
