humanity
Humanity begins at home.
Grandma Emms" Rug Company
Like Mellencamp says, "I was born in a small town." Virden, Illinois, population 3800. My whole family is from here. My momma is from 14 brothers and sisters, the Matattall kids all lived there youth out here. My dad's whole family is from here. My great grandma Emms is the matriarch of the Walls' side. She had 5 girls. My grandma Walls, aunts Margie, Dorothy, Darlene, And Helen who passed shortly after birth. She was literally the coolest human being I've ever known. She lived to 1 month before her 100 birthday. She made munitions during world war 2. She helped found an United Assemblies of God church in Virden. My grandpa Harry was killed by an exploding tractor tire in grandma's 30's and she never remarried. She played the banjo, she was the best Jeopardy at home player I've ever seen. Our houses were right next to each other. Her and my dad grew side by side gardens every year until she couldn't physically tend to it anymore. I was born in 1980, grandma was already 72. The coolest thing she did was make handmade rag rugs on an old loom. People from our town would bring their old clothes in trash bags to her, and she would make them a rug. She charged 10 dollars, i guess it was enough to supplement the little money she got from social security.
By Quinton Walls 5 years ago in Families
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
March 31, 2021 I am at my last ultrasound appointment for Unborn 4. My due date is tomorrow, April 1, and what a funny date to have. I always felt like a joke was being played on me having that due date, like I was on an episode of Punk'd for 10 months waiting for a crew to pop out an say "Joke's on you, baby is not yours, thank you for your time." But that never happened. I just have this doctor in front of me saying there is a chance I can be induced tomorrow when I follow up with my OB/GYN. They always worried my baby was "too small" with measured weight just over 6 pounds, and I always rebutted with 8 pound babies were "too big", so they want the baby out. Well we agree on something because so do I. I waddled out the office with one thing on my mind. I am going into labor tonight.
By Christina DeFeo5 years ago in Families
The Way We See Things
As human beings we are naturally thoughtful. Experiences make us who we are. We get images of people in our mind and that’s how we remember them. Sometimes it creeps up on us that the person who we remember isn’t the person who is standing in front of us. It makes me think of the scene in A Christmas Story where Ralphie gets the pink bunny outfit for Christmas. Even if Ralphie was a girl he’s not a little kid anymore.
By Nathan J Bonassin5 years ago in Families
Magic From the Garden
Today is the day. Sparrow knows that it is time as she is being moved into the delivery room on a rolling hospital bed. My daughter is literally aching to get out, Sparrow thinks with a smile. She practices her Lamaze breathing as the nurses and their assistants rush her down the hallway. With the passing of the overhead lights, Sparrow wishes that her husband Marty could be here but he is deployed overseas. The joys of being a military wife, she contemplates to herself. During their last facetime visit, Sparrow promised to send a picture of their new baby girl to him as soon as possible.
By Erika Ravnsborg5 years ago in Families
Amazing. Grace.
I can’t remember when or how I first learned to stitch. It was probably on a thick piece of cardstock with an outline of a camel or maybe a horse on it, and bright yellow or maybe orange yarn pre-threaded on a huge plastic needle. A specially made kit for kindergarteners, in a box that proclaimed that you could sew just like mom! No scissors required. When you finished one, you simply took the yarn out and did it all over again. It was like a dot-to-dot picture, with yarn.
By Nancy Adelman5 years ago in Families
Do You Think Parenting Stops?
I am one of those who think parenting is one of the hardest jobs on the planet. It's an opinion I have had for a long time and it hasn't quite changed. There are topics I can't help but read or save for later reads. Finance, health, politics always make the list. Parenting comes in at some point.
By Nkeonye Judith IZUKA5 years ago in Families
6 Lessons from a Poor Childhood That Lead to a Rich Life
I grew up on a farm with my father who was employed and my mother who cared for the elderly. I had six brothers and was the fifth in line. We had little money, but I always felt loved, not deprived. In many ways I was a rich man.
By Bishnu Bhandari5 years ago in Families
My Family Is My Support
Family is the first school in a person’s life, your family values and traditions are your first and valuable asset. I have a very close-knitted family, I love all my family members as and how they are. Both my parents are working. My grandparents also stay with us. My grandfather is a retired army officer, drawing a small pension. He is a strict disciplinarian. Everyone has to get ready for a morning walk by 6 a.m. He pulls us up very often and my parents have no choice before him.
By Sumesh Bhaila5 years ago in Families
I Promised.
The snow tumbles across the barren landscape, the last fruitless efforts to keep everyone indoors, except for one dark figure. A man stands alone. His motions are hazy, like the snow, as if they came from another person. They take monumental effort. He does his best to concentrate.
By Hannah Marie. 5 years ago in Families
