fact or fiction
Is it fact or merely fiction? Fact or Fiction explores the myths and beliefs we hold about our family dynamics, traditions, and if there's such thing as a 'perfect family.'
The Big Catch
The Big Catch We grew up in the projects in New York, at a time when the kids sat on the stoops with their parents, who talked about getting away from the city over the weekend, for an excursion. The “Excursion,” as it was affectionately called, was typically a fishing trip to escape from the summer swelter. Our apartments were air conditioned but the buildings were old, and to save money, we apartment dwellers did whatever we could to get to the ocean. My mother, who was the leader of the fishing day trip adventures, spun her stories about the “Big Fish” that our gaggle of neighbor kids could catch on the boat, and she described in detail the perilous journey of luring in a monster size fish. There was always a trophy for the prized lure, and my sweaty drippy face friends sat wide-eyed in anticipation of the outing.
By Zel Harrison5 years ago in Families
Family Jewels
Growing up, Celeste’s dad passed along a few simple sayings his father had shared with him. Truth is beauty. Save your pennies. Practice makes perfect. Smart is good. Life is pain. Like precious jewels, each adage would be tested under pressure and shine through the next inevitable trial, lighting her path.
By Gale Martin5 years ago in Families
Caught Dreams
The small and cozy space now seemed vast and full of echoes. After mom's disappearance we took most of her belongings and placed them in storage. It had been three years, but I still couldn't bring myself to sell the house. The "what if's" haunted me at night.
By Deana Warner5 years ago in Families
The Little Black Book
Dear Diary, Beware of distractions they come so fast and between when you're so close to your goals being achieved. You can be engaged in learning the most rewarding self improvement techniques ever when Alvin comes along with his mocha smooth skin, puppy brown eyes, dreadlocks dripped hugging his tightly designed four pack and a killer smile, and takes away your attention of your growth and focus on becoming your greatest you. I’ve told myself this time I was not going to fall for another personal trainer; this time I will not gaze deeply into his eyes and see him and vision us at the altar. Besides, I don’t even know if he likes my hair in an updo or Shirley Temple’s curls with a flower gently placed behind my left ear. It must be a trend now how everyone is going out on a limb somehow to make it to the gym now. I might be on defense now that I see how Alvin’s grin shows me that he wants me in the locker room right now. Talk to you soon,
By Jennifer Solomon5 years ago in Families
Co-Cola Playground
The great cut in the hill was orange with vertical tooth-marks from the excavator that had torn away the clayish soil. The tree line that marked the top started with the trunks eking out their places in the soil maybe fifty feet from the floor. The edge of this hill was at the top of the place where the machine had cut away soil for three days. It made room for the new ball fields, and left those great gnawing toothmarks from the front of its bucket in the bright orange clay as if it were some beast that ate dirt.
By Elizabeth Power5 years ago in Families
Dancing Cheek to Cheek
The beep of the cardiac monitor was a sign that Yvonne need knowing her husband of 65 years was still alive, it gave her hope that he was still fighting with her. They had been together for 75 years, their entire adult life, life with Malcolm was all she knew, she didn’t know how to exist without him. Now after all that time, he lay lifeless in the ICU of John Hunter hospital, after having a massive heart attack this morning.
By Cassie Ford5 years ago in Families
