My Eulogy

I sat down to write this eulogy the weekend before my mother died. I was in a chair next to her bed, keeping her company as she dozed. Initially, I thought this would be the hardest thing I would ever write. But the truth is, as I watched her sleep, I took comfort in knowing she was lost in a dream-world instead of plagued by her dark reality—and the words poured out of me like I too was lost in a world of dreams. Dreams that brought me back to the imaginary games we played when I was just a kid, secrets confided between a mother & dauggter, lessons learned, I love you”s exchanged, her beaming pride, our friendship, arguments that exhausted both of us, and the reconciliations that always brought us back together.

I rapidly took the bathtub scrub and started scrubbing like my life depends on it. I always said the most ungracious stuff about my mom not being book smart. As I was cleaning, I felt drowsy more than ever. I felt like I overdosed myself with allergy medicine. My eyes were easily closing like I was giving up on life. As soon I put out the trash on the porch, I ran so fast. I ran faster than an Olympic track and field star. As soon as I got to my room, I cleaned my room so fast I bet the flash could not reach my speed limit. By the time I was done my mom entered the room with the Bible. All I could say is “what, she wants to preach now. I think I have been through heck already” she hands me the bible and says read this scripture, I read “children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” Ephesians 6:1. Before I knew she was ranting very loudly about her life in Africa, how her mother suffered for her and that she was so respectful. I bet 5 million dollars she did not lie due to how she treats her mom now. I started crying and realized how I was wrong about my

Five days had passed this time since anyone had heard from my mother. I remember praying to God to protect her from harm and for me to find her. The next day she showed up, but not in the way we had hoped. One morning as I was getting ready for school my sophomore year in high school, my phone rang to the voice of my stepfather. My stepfather had told me he heard a call come over the dispatch scanner at his work and my mother’s name was mentioned. The sheriff had informed my stepfather that my mother had been involved in an accident. My stepfather asked me to go to the emergency room and see what condition my mother was in because he lived a half hour away from the hospital. When I arrived at the hospital I found my mother cut out of her clothes, covered in her own urine, massive amounts of blood all over her body, and lying lifeless on life support on the table. At this point, no one knew whether my mother would be okay. My mother had bleeding on the brain as well as a tear in her shoulder, a shattered face, and a chest tube draining fluid from her lung which had collapsed. All I could do was pray! My mother’s life was in God’s hands now. Three days later she woke

Have you ever walked down that white tile floor that reeked of bleach, with a bouquet of roses and daisies, all tied into one? Well, I have. My brother was in a small hospital room for a little over a week, trying to recover from a car accident with a minor concussion. I remember standing close by my dad as we went into the huge elevator filled with people. I slowly made my way to the far right corner and waited till our stop. As the elevator ringed, we snuck out of the crowd of people and turned the corner. I knocked on the door. The door slowly squeaked opened with a nurse on the other end. I look over to the bed; my brother had needles and wires stuck into him like a pincushion. But yet, he still managed to get some sleep. I set the box of chocolates on the table beside him, and then set my own self onto the small, unpleasing couch. Trying to get comfortable, I

Beginning of summer 2016 things began to fall apart, starting with the week of the Gibson County Fair. I was sitting on the long couch at my friend Kendall’s house and my phone started to ring, it was my step dad, Eric. He called to tell me that my mom had not been home in two days and hasn’t answered his texts or calls and he was about to fill out a missing persons report. I knew something was off when she wouldn’t text or call me back. I called and called multiple times and texted her over and over again. “mom, where are you.” “mom, why won’t you answer” ..Worry began to overcome my body and I didn’t know what was happening. I prayed so much that week, had my church praying for guidance and for her. I tried everything, called and texted everyone. Family, friends, coworkers, no one knew anything.. 10 days filled

As a child I was not raised in a “church-going family” but I was always interested in why people followed the Lord and gave their lives to him. When I was around 8 years old I asked a family friend if she would take me when she went the next Sunday, and she said yes. But, for an 8 year old, sitting in a big room with some strange man trying to be funny and using words that I didn’t understand wasn’t very fun. I kept going even though I didn’t enjoy it and I would draw and try to find ways to make the hour and a half pass. Without my knowledge there was a whole other thing going on upstairs, children’s ministry. That’s something I was interested in. So, the next Sunday I made my way upstairs and found where I was supposed to be and it shocked me that I wasn’t the only one who drew at church! There was an entire table designated to coloring pages and more crayons than I could have ever used. After coloring on countless coloring pages we went to “worship time.” It was so fun! We got

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, a city where I realized being an American is an unbelievable blessing to have in your life. I would have to thank my mother for risking her life, and having the courage to move to the United States when she was only eighteen. Without her courage I would be living a completely different life right now. The opportunities one has as an American is shocking. Not realizing how fortunate Americans are in their country, with job opportunities, public school system,and child labor laws. Basic laws are not as easily accessible in other countries; one would have to be quite wealthy to receive these essentials in their country. The opportunities I am able to receive through this country makes me proud I was made in the USA.

Hi.Patrick.Hope all is well with you.I am responding to some of your comments and hostility towards your father when he emailed you several months ago.

Alvira! You are one of the craziest people I have ever met (hint hint the photo). You are so kind and deal with my 6:30am wake ups and my sharp midnight bedtimes. You make fun of my crazy happiness as we enter any big city, and my love for long bus rides. You want to be anarchaeologist (like Indian Indiana Jones AND Jackie Chan). And with your love of old rock bands I know you'll go far. I loved spending with month with you and if you are ever in the east cost give me a call! - your bathroom buddie for life, Megan

I believe that one time my grandma told me a story. It was about her growing up as a kid. She did not have any sisters or any girls living anywhere near her cause she lived on a farm. What she did have was 3 brothers. Since she lived with boys growing up she did a lot of boy things. An example is for fun instead of playing with dolls she climbed trees with her brothers. I have been researching for about two weeks and know I am here to tell you about what I have doing. Honestly was very hard as a researcher, I didn’t get anything done on the computers instead I did a lot of interviews. I want to tell you when you’re stuck do not give up in 30 minutes. Just ask your teacher for a little advice or some help with researching. I believe that family is very important because all of them will love you and care for you.

A year ago, I was awaken by the sound of my mom voice. The sound in her voice was like she was in shock. I found out later on that she was talking to my cousin Jc. She got off the phone and turn to me and said," I got to tell you something". That when she told me that my step dad passed away in a car crash that night. The report on that was fill out said he had died from his injuries. The car had hit a tree and he broke his neck. A couple of days later when we had my step dads rosary I was scared. I did not want to go up to the casket and see his body. After all of the session was over I had the courage to go up and see his body. I started to cry cause it did not look like him all he look like a different man. I touched his body and his body

I have done a lot of thinking lately. I never got to properly thank you for everything you do for me. I have been keeping notes since my junior year about all the thing I need to say. Let’s start at the beginning.

I was unaware of what i was doing, although, even when i realized what i was doing i still didn’t care. I was pounding on the bed my mom was laying on in the hospital.”Why, why did you have to leave”, i shook my head, but instead of screaming i was whispering so only mom could hear, but i obviously i knew mom couldn't hear my screams nor my whispers. After few minutes of trying to talk my mom out of being dead ( the stupidest thing i have done in my life) i was tired, my head was pounding, my hands were hurting from pounding on the bed. I couldn't take it anymore, first dad then mom. Could my life get any worse? I guess that was a question i should've never asked, because faith decided to answer “yes” to my question, because my Uncle Vonley Ritsukey ( the ey at the end of their names was a tradition, something oddly my mom wasn’t included in and neither was i, not that i wanted to be included in their weird

It was May 17th, 2011, it was a normal school day when my brother and I were told that my mom called to say that she was picking us up early. I was anxious, wondering why we were going home early and breaking our usual routine. When my mom came to get us, the first thing that I noticed was that she didn’t greet us with her usual smile. I was 9 years old, very observant, but not able to sense what was to come. We got into the car, when I asked my mom where we were going hoping

During the week prior to me finding out about my mom’s illness, a strange thing was happening to me. I do admit had had become emotionally and spiritually disconnected from God. Only ever praying when I needed something from him, or right before an exam. I was in a really bad place. I would lie to my parents constantly, not very big lie that would put me in harms way, but lies nonetheless. I took the fact that I had healthy loving parents for granted and never sat back to really appreciate everything my parents went through to give me the life I have today. During the week leading up to new years I felt as though a dark cloud had come over me. I would wake up in morning knowing that I this day wouldn 't be any better that the last. Nothing had happened to me specifically but It was as if, deep down, my heart knew what was