As my dad walked through the
As my dad walked through the
At the time, my family and I felt devastated; we were ill informed about the disease and as the youngest, I felt more lost and terrified than anyone about what would happen. Yet, I could only stare with awe at my mother who remained level-headed and even curious about the disease that she would share her…
It's Thursday, the day of the Farmers Market in Swansea, Il. This market takes place every Thursday at the Rural King parking lot, during the summer months of April thru October.My grandfather Norm started this event about 4 year ago, with just around 3 vendors. Now the business booming, with approximately 15 vendors participating ,vendors now range from wooden sculptures, to jewelry, and even Shea butter to help eliminate dry skin. Norm was born and raised in Belleville, il where he and his wife Deloris raised four children Mary ,Mike, Tom ,Barb. When Norm was young he attended Belleville west high school, where upon he found his first job working in Sears sales department. Later into his career he found an interest in auctioneering, and created his own family business, called "Geolat auction". After 30 years of being an auctioneer, he retired and began his real passion in agriculture. At his house in Belleville Norm owns around 3 acres of land that he uses to grow peppers,tomatoes,beets,turnip,and even square watermelon. Norm was…
I looked around and I wasn’t in my room anymore, I was in the hospital during my grandpa’s surgery. The waiting room was cold and sterile and the smell of antiseptic was so strong I could taste it. Waves of uneasiness washed over me as if they were trying to drown me. My grandma and my mother were sitting in the room with me and they looked just as scared. I remembered how long my grandpa was in surgery to get his windpipe removed, how I had thought that I wouldn’t make it through the hours he was and that if he didn’t then I wouldn’t make it for much longer afterward.…
For me I would say that my dad is not supportive to me. My mom and my dad they divorced and then my mom married another person which is the one I live with now. I feel really good with my stepdad, and my mom is happy. My biological dad to me, it just the memories from the past that I hate. I would like to forget about the past memories and it would be easy for me to become a different person. He is the one that I will not ask any help and any supports…
As I Easter came upon us, I knew my Grandpa John would be in town. My Grandpa John is 69 years old, and has experienced many different social issues during his life, so I decided to interview him. In his prime, my grandpa served in the military which allowed him to move often around the United States, and the world. I knew he had a lot of experience due to the military, and he was quite the storyteller. I knew it would be easy to talk to him about different social issues throughout his life. As we sat down we talked about many things, but the two ideas that really stuck out to me were the Vietnam War and the Space Race.…
I was coming home from school after looking forward to petting my dogs and then putting my football stuff on for practice. The wind was picking up, and a cloud had briefly blocked the direct sun. I had gotten to my house and seen my mom in a lawn chair drinking water in the backyard, which was unusual as she was still typically at work. I walked into the backyard and said hi when she said " Joe, Wade is dying."…
Some nights I dream about Michael. He’s coming home from college for christmas break and he’s brought a girl with him. Our family is sitting at the dinner table and he’s giving my sister’s new boyfriend a hard time. He’s sitting in the audience, whooping and hollering as I walk across the stage and receive my diploma. Other times, he’s standing in a waiting room, introducing my sisters and me to his little girl. I dream about all of the moments my family and I never got to have with him and my heart breaks every single time. Michael has been gone for almost 16 years and yet he is still with me every day. I dream about him and what could have been; what should have been. Michael’s death teaches me something new almost every day. I have learned what loss is, how to deal with it, and how to grow from it.…
I came back from surgery, now in my own hospital room and spent the night there with my mom. It was April 14, 2009 and my parents get called out of the room to speak with an oncologist. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but I saw my parents crying. They came back two minutes later and I finally knew what was wrong.…
I didn’t know heartbreak until June 28, when my dad told me that he had stage 4 cancer. I didn’t know fear until August 13, when I found out that he would have to undergo radiation to combat a tumor in his brain. I didn’t know weariness until August 24, when everyone at school talked about how great their summer had been, and I had to lie and say that mine had been fine. I didn’t know how deep my love for my dad ran until June 29, when I wiped away my tears, stood a little straighter, and vowed to help him find little rays of light in even the worst days.…
We had never seen our mother in such despair; it was a shock to see our mother’s vivid emotions. My mother asked us if we wanted to see our father and we all replied “yes” and so she took all of us to see our father. However, my siblings and I went individually, but little did we know that what we were about to witness would shatter our hearts, feelings, souls, and…
After many doctor visits for what was thought to be a sinus infection, I can remember the look on my dad’s face when we were scheduled to have an ultrasound performed. We would later discover we were about to start yet another adventure. Soon, we would learn this one would be the worse yet. As the weeks passed, we received the news that this devastating form of cancer had returned. I had never dreamed that I would have to experience my own dad going through all this pain and suffering. It was something I had to quickly prepare for.…
The hospital became normal, chemotherapy became normal, the withering image of a man who refused to say goodbye became normal. My father did not want to die, he cried, not out of pain, but for the farewell he knew was inevitable. Thus, the morning of October 4th, 2005, the phone rang with an almost eerie cry. I, so meticulously trying to tie my shoes, kept undoing the knots until they met my high standards. Knot after knot, I battled my way until I achieved near perfection. That was the last thing I remember before my grandmother’s wails filled the house, sending chills down my spine. Provided, being the insightful child I was, knew it could only mean one thing. That fateful morning, I cried my hysterical cry.…
Cancer was something that happened in my life that I did not see coming. No of course it was not me who was hit with the big C. This happened to my sister when I was in the 6th grade. This took a major change to me and it changed who I am today. When this happened it took control of my sister. My sister has never had a fair life for her. When ever she would get passed a major thing in her life something always comes around to bite her. This thing that started it all happened when she was 3-4 years old and my sister needed to have brain surgery because she was constantly having seizures because of a brain condition called cortical dysplasia. This is a malformation in the development of the brain. Basically what this means is she had spots that…
This story requires a little back story, it was the spring of 2001. My dad at the time was 69, he had had quadruple bypass surgery three years earlier. I had four children a 17 year old step daughter, nine year old daughter, six year old son and a three year old daughter. My husband was out of town with his father attending his niece's blessing. (it is the equivalent of a catholic christening.) His mom had decided to not go since she was there when my niece was born for two weeks and felt she needed to be home for the weekend. My mom was out of town for the weekend at a womans LDS conference in Salt Lake Ut. My dad was all alone for the weekend and wanted to come down to visit.…
There I was, walking along the road that lead to whatever next town it let to. It was a cold, windy sunny day with no cars around and I was also alone, which to me was a perfect day and I was also terrified.…