Lifestyle

They say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I wouldn’t call my experiences hell, but I’ve certainly made some bloopers along the way.

“This morning at 8:22 a.m. Abby was blessed with her first bear at our cabin.”

In the sixties, people started to come to know about the harmful effects of the sunrays and that overexposure to the sun could cause a serious type of skin cancer. This was the time when researchers working for skin care commodity makers started working on the development of two products; one was products that would protect a person from the sun when outdoors which were sunscreens and sunblock and the other were products that would give a tanned look to a person without the person getting sun exposure. Sun tanners have become quite popular today as an alternative to getting a suntan from the convenience of one's home or beautician or a spa without getting the skin damaged by harmful UV rays of the sun.

When I was 17 years old, I was a homeless runaway. I never would have imagined this becoming my story. I concentrated on elevating myself to be better. I wanted to disprove what any statistical likelihood could have predicted, of me. I was an honor student, and the youngest high school graduate in my class. I was a member of every team and club, and a favorite amongst my teachers. I had a lot of friends, and would probably be remembered for being really 'sweet' and in some cases, 'shy.' But I had a debilitating secret that I kept from everyone...

When it comes to our parents, we want to be there for them. However, where can they live to enjoy their golden years? Living on their own can be significant. Eventually, the time will come when they will need help getting around the house. Not to mention, they can easily be injured, and that would put a lot of anxiety and stress when the family doesn’t hear from their grandparents or see them for a while. So, you would think a nursing home is an excellent choice because you would feel safe knowing the staff is certified. They wouldn’t be alone because of the other seniors.

I was in a terrible car accident years ago. A seemingly normal day. I was on my way to work. Only 22 years old, cruising 80mph down the freeway when I heard my phone buzz from the passenger seat. Maybe it was human reflex or force of habit that pulled my eyes away the road. I turned my gaze toward the cell phone hum against the leather seat. Only a blink. A moment. When I looked up, a semi-trailer was at a dead stop not 10 feet ahead. Time stopped. Calm came over me as I watched the front end of my car folding against the trailer, my inevitable demise, in slow motion. My higher conscious spoke, “I’m ready. I’m ready to go home.” Overcome with peace and trust I lifted my foot off the break...