The Death of my Grandmother
The author of this story has created the collage seen above. (Click to see the full-sized image.)
My grandmother had been diagnosed with cancer. During a period of time she got sicker and sicker. Then one day my granny had to be rushed to Rush Hospital. I remember the smell; it’s the same every time I go to the hospital, the smell of death.
It happened at about 3:00pm on a November winter day. I was about 9 or 10 years old in 4th grade. The family got a call saying that my granny had passed on. After that day I thought there wasn’t any reason for living. I went through an emotional stage, but after awhile I realize I had to be strong and carry on with my life.
I remember the funeral and how everybody was so hysterical. The funeral was so big that everyone couldn’t even fit in the church.
What was most challenging about this event was I lost a very important person in my life. My grandmother was very special to me in many ways. She cared about me; she loved me, and took care of me like I was her own child. In one day I lost all of that. To me carrying on was most challenging because I not only lost my grandmother, I also lost a friend, a person who loved and cared about me. I lost a part of my life. My grandmother and I use to do almost everything together. She taught me right from wrong. She taught me everything I need to know to survive in this cold world. Some of the gains I had to deal with was realizing that life is too short and don’t take advantage of it. I learned don’t hate nobody and treat people how you want to be treated. I also learned respect, to respect my elders and my parents because they may be gone today or tomorrow.
I was a little girl who stayed to myself. Even though I was quiet I still had friends. I wasn’t different from other kids. I wore my hair in three ponytails with barrettes on them. My mother kept my clothes and shoes clean. I was an ordinary child with an ordinary family. What my friends like about me was that I had a nice personality and I was a funny person. If you was around me you would always get aleast one laugh in. What my family found annoying about me was my quietness. They say that I’m always to myself and I don’t like communicating.
Why my grandmother’s death affected me so much because I admired her. I looked up to her because she was an independent black woman who raised six kids on her own.
My mentor who guided me through my grandmother’s death was my mother. She told me everything will be alright and she will be looking over me. My mother is something like my grandmother. She is a black independent woman who also love and care about me. My mother is the type of person who keeps to herself. Sometimes, she can be very talkative and at other times she can be very quiet. I think that’s where I get that from. What I like about my mother is that even though she’s hurt she still find away to smile.
My biggest enemies was probably the kids at school. Not knowing what I was going through they always messed with me. Some kids use to make small comments about my family or my grandma. I think the challenge made me a better person because I know now how to except criticism. Those little comments use to get to me. They still get to me but I know how to control it a little better. From my enemies I learn people could be real cruel but you have to be strong.
