humanity

Humanity begins at home.

A Cry In Aisle Three
Before Andrea opens her eyes, she feels it, the rigid cold air around her. If not for her warm sanctuary under her comforter, she would be freezing. She buries herself further under the covers dreading getting herself out of bed. She tries to cuddle up next to her husband, Will, though she is rebuffed when he rolls over attempting to steal the whole comforter. Defeated, she opens her eyes. The clock on the nightstand reads 5:30am. Reluctantly, she sits up, moaning and shivering. As she sits on the side of the bed, her feet feel for her shearling-lined slippers. Eventually, she locates them and even manages to get each one on the correct foot. She forces herself to stand. Although she is wearing flannel pajamas, she still holds herself and occasionally rubs her upper arms to stay warm. She makes her way across the room to the window. It is still dark outside, but she can see that everything is covered in white, the wind is blowing hard and she wonders if it is still snowing or if the wind is just blowing the snow that has already fallen.
By Robyn Moss 6 years ago in Families
When Me and My Family Went Missing in the 1970s
A true story. My entire family, my mom, dad, me and my brother all went missing in 1979. I was 14, a freshman in high school. I considered this quaint little town my home. It’s wonderful people, my friends. I was on the drill team; which I loved! I played softball in the summers. I was on a bowling team in the winter. It’s where I became a Girl Scout, rode my bicycle down the Jumbo. Sang songs with my best friend out on the lawn (it was the 70s!). Where I would sing way too loud to the radio and records in my room to the dismay of the boy next door. (I owe him an apology!) Rode my bike everywhere! It is where my grandmother died. Where I got my first job. It is where I grew up. It was home.
By Paula C. Henderson6 years ago in Families
..And Back Again
My Father's Sister had passed away alone in her apartment, Toronto, ON. 2012. But that was how she wanted to live her life. As an artist; you are never alone, even when you want to be.
By SewFancyPaints6 years ago in Families
Pride & Sustenance
To be honest, I’ve experienced quite a bit of cruelty in my life, particularly my upbringing. To provide you general context, I attended school (more like competing) in an upper class district while I regularly went days without food. Less than 2 months after I turned 18, my family was finally arrested on pimping and trafficking charges. So it goes without saying that when you grow up in a cut throat environment as a child, whether socially ostracized in a wealthy community you don’t belong in, or tossed around as a punching bag between relatives for money, you seldom experience acts of kindness. Where I come from, acts of kindness are either to belittle others, or leveraged as a favor to collect later (like tax breaks).
By A6 years ago in Families
Journal Entry 1-23-21
Okay folks, I am back with another journal entry sorry I did not have anything yesterday. My hands, I tell you what hurts so bad even cleaning the house I want to cry. Well, I am up now it is 7:47 and I have my coffee, the computer at my numb fingertips, and my cigarettes.
By Audie Edwards6 years ago in Families
Cabin Stories
You might think that a cabin on top of the Alpes would have everything a person needs to have an easy-going life. But what if I tell you that despite the luxuries--redwood, marble, and a collection of first edition hardcover books--it's a dull place for someone who grew up with technology all around him. And yes, I'm talking about me. I sigh. Even if we had internet, with no electronics, it's obsolete to even think about it.
By Jose Duron6 years ago in Families
Angel on Earth
Some people come into your life that completely change it for the better or the worse. Their actions have such an impact, the rest of your life decisions derive from meeting them. Their memory enters your thoughts at various times and you contemplate how things may have been different had you not met them. This blog post is about one of those who made my life better.
By Dazeodrew6 years ago in Families
Swedish Death Cleaning: A review of my mother's latest obsession
Two weeks into the first lockdown of last year, a time that would set the tone for the rest of the year, my mother announced she was death cleaning. Specifically, Swedish death cleaning.
By Dom Borrett6 years ago in Families
A wistful windfall
I often used to hypothesize about what I’d do if I came into a large sum of money. Every time I bought a lottery ticket I would ration out the estimated jackpot in my mind. First I’d pay off the mortgage, settle up the credit card debt, then maybe take the family on a nice holiday abroad - you know, in the old days when travelling was a thing, up until 2019 BC (before covid).
By Sun Moon6 years ago in Families
Second Chance
Forty-five-year-old Pamela Hall had a lousy temper. Keeping a job was always a problem for her. Her friends would often tease, “Thank God you have no children, or you would be in jail every day.”
By Annelise Lords 6 years ago in Families
Kilend's Heart
Kilend’s Heart Caring for One Another Kilend was a little boy who lives with his mother Lauren and little brother DJ who has Autism. He was playing outside one day with DJ when they decided to go into the wood behind their house. They were looking at the trees and bugs on the ground. They went a little furter into the woods then they should, but they were having fun. The came upon a creek and started to toss rocks across the creek. His little brother DJ was so excited because he was with his big brother. They played in the woods by the creek and tried to climb the trees around them. Kilend heard a noise, so he told DJ to be quiet so they could hear the noise more clearly. The became very quiet then the sound came again. It was their mother Lauren calling them. Kilend thought, she must be worried, so he told DJ we have to go home now, Mom is calling us. They started to walk toward home when Kilend saw something on the ground. DJ said Kilend what is it you found. Kilend picked up the object. It was a rusty metal box. Kilend opened it and there was a lot of money in the box. The boys were amazed and ran home to their mother.
By Michele Austin6 years ago in Families
How complicated
Life can get complicated. From family you talk to, to family you don’t. How you were raised and everything in between. But I never thought about the story I would have to explain to my children one day. I have a son now, he is two months old. Everyday I think about how I will explain to him the story about how my side of the family, isn’t the family I was born from. How my life seemed to be out of a book. A story I never in a million years would’ve thought I’d tell more than just the people in my life.
By Destiny S6 years ago in Families