Personal Narrative: The Day After Death

On 09/12/2016, I Deputy Daniel Pruitt was dispatched to 52455 West Highway 16 for an unattended death compliant. I arrived on scene st 6:45pm and meet with Creek County EMS unit 40.

I wait at the door. I put on my solemn, grim face, I cannot let these children see me as a soft women. I am anything but that, well I guess I am, but we all need to hide our inner emotions some how. My useless husband, Hans, mumbles, “I see the car”. We step outside, most people think Hans and I are crazy for opening our home to these two children, but every little bit of money that we can earn helps. Plus, they can help with the laundry, I think and smile.

Cozy coffee shops, warm summers, friendly hugs…1.2.3. Disastrous events occur all the time. We are always aware that someone, somewhere in the world, is hurtling forwards into tragedy. Tragic endings leave behind unanswered questions, unfulfilled dreams, unspoken thoughts. Those who love you are left behind, in the dust of your presence, spent to forever remember only your memory, not your existence. Crisp slices of toast, piping hot cups of tea, fresh strawberries…1.2.3. We all tend to forget an end exists. We spend our lives compiling as many happy memories as we can, fully enjoying the good days, deeply mourning the sad ones. When tragedy strikes, only then are we reminded that the end is there, and we scurry and try once again to make the most out of

Dealing with grief is never easy. One of the hardest time in anyone’s life is when an acquaintance or a loved one passes away. In the second week of the Fall 2016 semester, I received a devastating call. I walked into my chemistry class, and my mom called me from Turkey to tell me that my grandmother had passed away. I sat in silence in the car on the way home and thought about my grandmother. She had taught me innumerable important lessons throughout my life. Losing her changed everything, and I knew I had to return to my home country to say goodbye to my grandmother.

The remorse grey morning awaited. I never knew one person could have such an impact on my life, as well as everyone else’s lives. I always thought everything was just a beautiful fantasy land where everything was perfect. Waterfall coming out of everyone's eyes filled my imagination of what one man can do to a crowd. I asked myself one question, “Why him, why does it have to be him”. The emotions, pouring out of meand I knew the fall of 2006 was gonna be bad.

Please, oh please let the words come. I sit, and stare, and type, and I backspace. No one will like it. My work is crap. Crap, crap, crap. I crumple my paper watch it fall. The clock taunts with its ticking reminding me of all I want to forget. It creates a beat; a song. Poetic chords and dismal notes ring in my ears. But no, this is thought I should avoid. I am great- better than great. People will love this. Oh please, please, please let them love this. Will my legacy amount to nothing more than abysmal hope? This is the last time I think of it. Oh please don’t let me think of it. The blank page stares at me and I begin to write. One word, then another, then another, and another. You will never know what comes out onto the page until it is

I’ve always wondered what death feels like, finally coming to the point in your life where everything stops. Is it just a sudden silence? What does death taste like, what does it look like? People say that you can have a near-death experience, but I sure as hell haven’t ever had one. None of that “Life flashes before your eyes” B.S. I mean sure, I’ve had a few bumps and bruises, and a couple times I’ve come home anything but sober. I’ve never really come close to dying or death in general, well not until that day in the woods.

The leather feels cold under my fingertips as I sit on our living room couch. My feet are propped up on the small coffee table, banging together lightly in boredom. Mom sits with me, our shoulders barely touching. It's only been twelve hours since I found Laura in the alley and the police already want to put us into protective custody. I don't want to go, but there is nothing tying me here anymore. Laura's gone.

TOUCHDOWN!!!!! That's all I heard as I laid there back first on the cold pointy turf. It was a warm Sunday night. Like any other Sunday I had my football game. But that day was not like any other day. This day.This game was not like any ordinary game for the Falcons football team, and Austin Hembd a 13 year old football player. We were down by 4 points one touchdown and we could win. During the 4th quarter there were only 5 seconds left on the clock. Enough time for one play. I get to the line and start to call my cadence, my face is dripping with sweat, my heart is racing. Within a second my eyes narrow and I hear nothing. I yelled hike. The play was supposed to be a deep pass, we are about 40 yards away from the end zone, but everyone is covered so all I can do is take

A true friend is someone who is always by your side and appreciates who you really are. I am Liesel Memminger and I was fortunate enough to have Rudy Stiener as my best friend. He was kind and compassionate yet a Saukerl at the same time, a mixture only Rudy could accomplish, and I am here to share my personal experiences with him.

November 14, 2014 I had moved up to Michigan to be with my wife. My step daughter had been asking us to go to church, and finally January 2015 we started going to Resurrection Life church. We got baptized and started going to church every Sunday. My wife and I are very involved in the church. When I lived out in Nevada I was hanging with the wrong people. I knew who God was, but I never took it serious. I believe God works in mysterious ways. He brought my wife and I together to make sure we made him a priority in our lives. He has blessed me with a beautiful wife, and three amazing step daughters. And a whole new family that loves me and accepted

A thunder clap sent floorboards shaking, The house heaved back, violently aching, Candle flame sent shadows lunging, My stomach started deeply plunging. I tried to keep my teeth from chatter, As the windows tempted shatter, Held my blankets to my chin, Tried to keep above the dinner.

The death of a loved one is one of the most challenging events I have had to overcome. The summer of 2014, I was just going into my junior year, was one for the books. It was an absolutely amazing summer. My sister had her first baby in May and we were getting to make his first summer his best, but little did we know it would also be his last. We lost him at the end of July. It was one of the hardest things to cope with. So many unanswered questions still to this day stand.

Sitting in the pew waiting on family members to arrive I closed my eyes and started focusing on my senses. I could hear cries, laughter reminiscing of a past father friend uncle nephew grandfather cousin. Stories that covered 50+ years of life. I could smell, perfume cologne cigarettes alcohol sweat a hint of flowers and death . I can feel panic fear loneliness nervousness and lost souls . Opening my eyes I try to connect the person to the sound smell or touch. Motivation comes to mind why do we really come to funerals? To honor a loved one to heal a lost relationship to see who attended ? The preacher reflected on 40+ years ago going to school with the deceased and hinted on Christian characteristics that may have showed a possibility of him

Working in a long-term care facility, this reflection journal really hits my heart. Since becoming a nurse, my perception of death and the end of life care has definitely changed in a more positive way. I do agree many people do fear most regarding death is suffering and dying alone.