My Family : My Crazy Family

The last thing I said to him was “ I will see you one day papa, bye, and I love you”. When I first got there I didn’t want him to go, but then I saw that he was in pain and couldn’t move. When me and my cousins sat there crying we were talking to him, I remember me saying “ it’s okay to let go”. When I am just standing there not doing anything it hurts me because I couldn’t do anything to help him. But before he passed I remember me telling him thank you for all he has done for me. He was the one that taught me how to ride a bike, he sang Allen Jackson to me, and he loved me. My grandfather was a good man, he raised my momma right, even though he had a bump in the road he overcame it and started to go to church and live his life right. I remember when he used to tell me “ Caroline do good, never drink or smoke, it will ruin your life” and that’s why I stay away from all that. I have the best moments of my grandfather and I will cherish that, I will always love him and he is always with me in my

Weeks later, sorrow spread throughout all branches of the family. Grandmama passed on and the family gathered once again for the funeral. Several relatives flew in from Mexico and those from northern California returned. The funeral was filled with tears, but there was also joy at seeing relatives whom my mother, aunts, and grandmothers had not seen in many years. Although the reason for assembly was heartbreaking, my family, young and old, came together to celebrate the life of

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I just hold the bouquet I bought for him I just needed to visit him again. My aunt parks, there is no one in the cemetery visiting only my aunt, sister and I. We stroll and open the gate. My aunt searches for my grandfather's grave. I felt so calmed and happy at the same time as I was strolling with my sister and aunt. I see lizards and iguanas around, I was watching step. I finally see my grandpa Jose grave. I put the bouquet in a base of water and place it in his own grave. That moment I could feel that lump in my throat. I felt like I wanted to cry because I still remember him when I went with my mom to visit my grandma and him when I was a toddler. I had memories of when he would take me on a ride on a horse. I was happy that I completed my goal to visit him. Visiting cemeteries is not my thing but I did it for my grandfather. A few days ago my grandma was gonna show us pictures of when he was sick. She took out all her photos of her side of the family and when my mom was a kid. Sadly, she couldn't find the pictures, my grandma told us that a day before she placed them in her storage. However, the photos didn't appear. I instantly thought that my grandpa hide them from us so my sister and I wouldn’t see those pictures. As I leave the cemetery we all head back to my aunt's house. The next day I sadly leave back home. That day was a memorable and a special day for me in my vacation trip to

It was the day of his funeral, my family's black van was stationed a few meters from his grave, my dad sitting in the driver's seat, me being on his lap with the window cracked halfway open. We stared at a distance at the crowd of my grandfathers family and friends surrounding his grave, dressed in somber colors. It was so quiet and I was clueless as to why everyone was so sad. My mom approached the car, clearly holding back tears unless she had just wiped them off. She asked me to give her the kleenex box sitting on the right side of the dashboard, which I remember was covered in a rose print, for my aunt who was standing behind her with her back turned to the car. My dad went to reach for it before I had the opportunity to since I was so concentrated on my mom's distressed face. That was the end of

My stepfather, who my mom just married, gave us the opportunity to meet this one man that used to work for him, his name was Curtis. He had cancer and he only had months to live. I started to create a bond with Curtis, we talked about sports and had a good time together. Then the last visit I could see him, I didn’t go, he died the very next day. I regret never seeing him on that last day I could have saw him. It haunts me every day, what could we have talked and laughed about. I was able to see Curtis’ burial at the Monte Vista Cemetery, the last goodbye, but definitely not the last time that we will laugh together.

The Funeral Service was beautiful. I got the pleasure to talk about how important being a sister is, and how losing someone you love is harder than you would think. Dad did not show up to his Daughter’s Funeral who has passed of cancer. When we got home we had at least 20 vases of flowers. My favorite where purple lilacs which were Sadie’s favorite. I took the lilacs and put them on my night stand. I stood up and glanced around and I kept thinking wow she is gone. “ Mom,” I said. She was crying on her bed. “ I could've saved her.” No, you could've I said. “ I am not ready to take down her bed, dresser and most of all was her vanity. I was going through her makeup and I remember one day in the hospital Sadie told me when you died I could use her makeup if I didn’t wear blue eyeshadow. Right then I fell on my bed crying. I missed her so

So many people had known him in his life and had been touched by his love, and his actions. And as most funerals go, there is a point where someone addresses the people who came to honor the life that’s lost. In my grandfather’s case, my grandmother wanted to do it. At that point in the funeral, I was tired, I was bored. I was so young and had no patience and little respect. My mother had just told me to sit still and be quiet when my grandma ascended the stairs to the podium. She walked, slowly, but confidently to the microphone. She looked out into the crowd and started to talk, when her voice cracked, and that was all it took. I watched as my grandmother broke down, loosing the will to hold herself upright, crying, looking devastated, while my Dad rushed onto the stage to help her down. To get her to sit, to give her some water, to comfort her. As this happened, all I could think was “why didn’t Grandpa help Grandma down from the stage? Why isn’t Grandpa here to comfort Grandma when she is upset?” Being a child, I didn’t understand what questions were wrong or when the time was wrong to ask them, and I remember turning to my mother and asking those same questions I just thought, out loud to her. The look I received is one I’ll never forget. So much pity and sorrow in one look. My mother leaned down close to me, hugged me and looked me in the eyes as she said: “Grandpa isn’t here anymore. Grandpa isn’t coming back. He has passed on and

I never liked funerals, even through they are thought as a celebration of the life you have lived, they only make me remember that you are no longer to continue celebrating that life. I place my unstable hand on the hard, dark, wooden coffin, wearing your suit you got perfectly fitted for what was supposed to be “the best day of our entire lives”. The flag draped upon your casket setting a reminder to every one of your bravery. I allow a tear to slowly roll down my cheek as I stare blankly at my blurred hand and say to you “my heart is forever yours”. I say this to you with a different meaning and emotion to when you said it to me as you placed the diamond ring on my finger for the first time. You said it as a beginning and I'm saying it now as an ending. This just highlights the fact that I'm not ready to say goodbye to you, I never will

As we approached the casket we saw his parents. My mother tells them, “We’re sorry for your loss.” I didn’t know what she meant until we got to the casket.

I had never been to a funeral before and wasn’t sure what to expect of it. I was almost excited, not in the fact that someone had died but in the fact that 1, I got to see a lot of family that I wouldn’t on a normal occasion, and 2 that I got to miss school which always makes whatever you do that day so much more enjoyable. After we all got ready my mom, Sadie, Brayden, and my aunt Darcy piled into her tan SUV. The location of the funeral wasn’t that far away but we all still managed to listen and belt along to the one and only Rick Springfield. As the car slowed down and pulled into the cramped parking lot I couldn’t help but glance out the window and see all the sad faces. Maybe this wasn’t an event I should be excited for. I got out of the car and fit the faces that were all around me. I kept my eyes down towards my black shoes that clopped loudly on the cement underneath my small toes. I tried whispering to Sadie

Lying in bed after a sleepless night, I had to find my inner strength and courage to overcome the sadness that would surely plague this day. What once belonged to him, and still holding the distinct scent of his cologne, I took the freshly pressed suit from the closet and drove to the church in a fog. It was a day that I had wished would never come. Holding the paper tight in my hand, I could feel my palms getting sweaty and my pulse starting to race. A still silence flowed through the room as I stepped up to the podium and took a minute to glance at all the somber people whose lives he touched. It was time to say goodbye to grandpa. Holding back tears and with my voice cracking, I started to read aloud the eulogy I had written last night:

When I arrived home, all of my relatives were there; they had come for the funeral. It reminded me of a holiday, having all my relatives at home. The situation was confusing, because I normally only saw my relatives at a time of joy. This was too much for me to handle. I called up an old friend, and we went out for drinks and dinner. I let everyone else worry about the details. After all, I was young and had no experience in these matters. I called

An exciting trip with family is something that most families remember vividly. In this case, it was not the most exciting trip we have taken, but definitely one to remember. Being in the hospital had some interesting experiences I saw and felt.

I grew up in a household slightly different from the average household. This abnormal household showed me that no matter the family unit someone can have a positive influence in their life that will push them to achieve their goals. We lived in Maryland so the cost of living was high my parents had to work multiple jobs. This means my brother and I really had little to none parental or supervision growing up. I am only four years younger than my brother so I would hang with his crowd of friends rather than mine. In my household, my mother’s niece, Monet lived with us she is about ten years older than my brother. When my brother and I would wake up and I would be the only person in the house. I can remember waking up and smelling the freshly cooked waffles and bacon downstairs. Monet was my mother’s brother, daughter. Monet became so close to my brother Avery and I she was almost as if she was our sister. I can remember growing up and she would always say, “You don't have to take the route I took, its many more exits on the highway.” Even though I was young I was not blind to the fact of Monet role in the community and her neighborhood job I never judged her, she did what she had to do to make ends meet. It was an experience every day, or anytime being with Monet. She was so popular around Maryland it was almost like everywhere we went we received respect love. Now that I look back at the past, I see that Monet has taught me a lot that I know and live by today. I could