Halfway through Kennywood Day -- the day filled with many roller coasters, water rides, and food some wait all year to pig out on -- the downpour caused out early dismissal from the park. Little did I know that this would be the best part of my day.
Back at home, my mother called me into the living room. I knew something was up when I saw my brother, red-eyed and quiet, waiting with her to share the news. "Grandma Anne passed away tonight and we will be going to Michigan this week" Those words hit me like a bullet to the chest. "How is this happening?" I questioned myself as hot tears streamed down my face like razor blades.
For quite some time, my grandmother had been ill with a minor case of Alzheimer's, a disease that causes one to lose his/her memory of people and events. It had been four years singe I had last seen her and I knew she wasn't doing well. My dad had gone up to visit her and take care of my grandfather that whole previous week only to recieve the news of her death before he set out to leave. I suffered most from not seeing my dad during this tragic event. My oldest brother and his wife were coming home to surprise my mom for Mother's Day and had to be welcomed with the news of their grandmother dying. All I wanted now more than ever, was for my family to be together again and help each other through this situation.
"She was getting better but then her body just gave up on her," my mother said while trying to explain her death.
"It's just not fair. This can't be happening," I shouted as I buried my head within her comforting chest.
Two days had passed and things still seemed sulky around the house. No one seemed the same with the thought of a family death on everyone's mind. Tears and sorrow filled our house like a flood as we all remembered and reminisced about the good days with her in our lives. Ths funeral was the Thursday of the following week. My two brothers and sister-in-law were heading out with us for two days. No one wants to look forward to a funeral but ig was also a way for our whole family to be together.
It was a monday night and my mother and my two friends, Jess and Dan, were going out to dinner to get our minds off of the subject. So, after dinner, Dan tood Jess and me to Rita's Italian Ice to get some ice cream. When we arrived home, my mother ran out of the house with tears streaming down her face.
"I think Allie is dead!" she yelled to my neighbor who was coming over to fix our car's headlight.
Those words were the worst possible thing that I could have heard after and eventful weekend that no one should have to suffer from. My dog, my childhood best friend of thirteen years was now gone. I did not want to believe it and all I could do was scream and cry and wish that this nightmare wouldn't be true. I ran inside and covered my dog wishing she would just start breathing again. "Don't do this to me girl," I whispered to her as I stared at her motionless body, one that had once comforted me through all of my wondrous encounters. At thirteen years old, she had suffered two surgeries to remove tumors with another one growing on her belly that couldn't be removed. Her heart was wearing out and her other organs were forced to work extra hard to keep her alive. She was going deaf and had trouble walking up and down stairs, but she never showed and close encounters of death. She lived one year longer than expected but it was years too soon for her to leave me. She was the most perfect dog who was well behaved and super sweet. The most unbearable pain I suffered that night was when I had to leave her at the vet's office to be creamated. All i wanted was for her to come back, but I knew that I didn't want her to suffer any longer.
The weekend of May 9, 2008 was one that I will never forget. The death of two very close family members was something no one should ever have to endure. Never had I imagined that I would experience something to brutle in such short time. But I do know that I had my family and friends to help me through the situation at hand and it definitely made me a much stronger person today. This tragic weekend made me realize something; that I should never take anything for granted and always live my life to the fullest.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
This story is so sad and even though I had already read it, I got goosebumps while reading it. It is very obvious that you were compassionate about both your grandmother and your dog becuase I believe the best of writing is about something the writer is compassionate about. Great job on this paper :)
Your story was extremely sad, making me remember exactly when this happened last year which makes the story even more sad to read. However, it really shows your emotions you had for both of them and tells the story well. This was very well written and told. I liked it a lot, good job!
Post a Comment