My family’s Having Some Hard Times But We Have Ways to Get Through it: My Essay

Bad luck stinks. And my family's been experiencing a lot of it. My grandma calls it the Tewsley luck. (I'll give you a hint 2 certain people in this class know how crazy my grandma can be but she's not kidding here.) Now let me give you a brief story. First my great grandma Beatrice dies. Then bye-bye grandpa. Then we say good-bye to a close friend of the family, a great aunt, 2 cousins, another friend or two, and so on. It all happened in the past 8 years and that's just the deaths. But, 2011and 2012 have been especially hard. This summer Borders Book Store where my parents met closed. My mom had no longer worked there, but for my dad he has held a position for almost 18 years! It was devastating. In November my grandma was diagnosed with throat cancer. It's something called life. It just goes that way. I guess what I'm trying to say is that my family's having some hard times but we have ways to get through it. Letting it go, making a joke and laughing, and wiping our slate clean.

One way we get trough it is by letting it go. When Borders closed all I had to do was to let it go and it helped.

When my grandpa died an organization called Hospice helped me let it go by coming to my house. They gave me lessons on letting it go and it made me feel a lot better.

One time they came in carrying a large bag filled with arts and crafts and plopped it down on the living room floor.

“How about we make something that reminds you of your grandpa.” said the Hospice worker.

I rummaged through the bag and pulled out a brown shoebox, tape, paper, scissors and markers. I drew a door and windows and asked if someone could cut them out. I began to work and after about 20 minutes I had a mini model of my grandparents apartment. Proud of myself, I admired the crayola marker drawing of him, my grandma, me and something I think now is their dog. To this day I have a who-knows-how-long-its-been-around shoebox up in my closet. It really helped me let it go.

We let it go when my grandpa died, we let it go when Borders closed, we let it go when my grandma was diagnosed with throat cancer. We let a lot of things go, but not completely.

Another way we get through it is by making a joke and/or laughing.

One time my grandma, mom and I were at Big Boys. My grandma and I were on one side of the table and my mom sat straight across from her. Here's a tip for the part of the story I'm about to tell and it is my grandma has a hard time swallowing because of her cancer and if she doesn’t think about it her food ends up all over the place. Okay, so the waitress comes with our food I got a grilled cheese my mom got a sandwich and my grandma got soup. We thank the waitress and as soon as she leaves my grandma picks up her spoon dips it in the soup, pulls it out and halfway up to her mouth she stops. Mid air, right there. She puts it back in her bowl and says quietly to my mom. 'Lovely daughter-in-law I hate to say this but I have to think about swallowing you know that right?” My mom nods “Yeah your siting right in the firing zone." My mom lurched over to the other side of the booth and began to laugh. Not long after my grandma's first slow bite of soup she turns to me. And told me “You know I might turn around.” I took me a while to realize what she meant but I said “Oh so no ones safe?” She nodded.

We love to laugh!

We laughed when I broke my leg going down the slide. We laughed when we saw my grandma's mask for her radiation. We laughed when my uncle's car was backed into. It makes hard times easier.

The last way we get through it is by wiping our slate clean. My dad's going for a job (because he's jobless) that is something he would like to do but not the exact same job as a history book buyer for Borders. Whether behind the counter ringing people up, stocking and re-stocking shelfs or in his cubical typing away on a computer.

One time this year, the day I found out my grandma cancer, I was so upset. After the talk, I went up to my room and didn't care to open the door which led down the hall and to the steps going downstairs. I'd like to be in the attic right now. I thought and then I had an idea. I ran into my closet pulled out my small dry erase board and an Expo marker. I sat on the floor and wrote all the basic bad things that had happened to my family and I experienced. Sticking to the basic I filled up the board and with one quick move of the had it was gone. Well that made me feel good. I thought smiling. Proud of myself I ventured downstairs and I had literally wiped my slate clean.

One time when we wiped our slate clean was when we picked up pieces of my dad's car that had been smashed into, planted flowers at my grandpa's grave and when I literally wiped my slate clean.

I realize that when people say, "I'm sorry your grandma has cancer" or "Sorry life’s hard," I still feel pinches of sadness even with that, ways that make it better it doesn't work completely, so don't go home and try it and you’re still sad and the next day you come to me and say “You promised it would work!” because it doesn’t work completely! Oh well. Tough luck. Everybody has it once in a while. But in my family right along with Borders in our blood the Tewsley luck has joined the party. So pretty much what I’m trying to say is that my family and me I are having some hard times but we have ways to get through it.

1. Let it go

2. Tell a joke and laugh

3. wiping our slate clean.

My Grandma Calls it the "Tewsley Luck"

10 Pieces of Advice and Facts

1. Our family has been experiencing an unluckily long chain of what my grandma calls the "Tewsley Luck." Its really hard but there are many ways to deal with it.
2. I feel really sorry for my family sometimes because of "The Tewsley Luck." but we aren't the only ones.
3. When people get upset because they didn't get what they wanted for Christmas, they should think about the people who don't even have a Christmas tree to put the presents (that don't exist) under.
4. People should know it's not just them.
5. Sometimes when you have such bad luck, you have to laugh. Make a joke about it. Try to have a little fun.
6. You need to think that because of the economy jobs are hard to get. Don't blame it on yourself. You did nothing. It's the economy that could be hurting your family.
7. You need to just let it go. When Borders closed it was really hard on me and my family. It took me about a week to realize it was really over. Done for. I needed to let it go.
8. When life feels like you're being pelted with dodge balls you need to back out and walk away. If you can't all you need to do it try to make it better. Say, "stop!" Close your eyes and think. Do what you have to do.
9. Maybe life doesn't always go the way you planned - either good or bad. You can work through it.
10. Take life to the cleaners. If you can put in the washing machine, do it. Start all new.

Lincoln the 16th President

You know Washington and Jefferson, Roosevelt and Adams, Bush and Eisenhower, Regan and Nixon...but do you recall the most famous president of all?

Lincoln the 16th president had a very long beard, and if you ever saw him you would be 151 years old.

All of the Southerners used to call him names. They never let poor Lincoln free their precious slaves.

Then one foggy night, he went to a play and a snobby actor snuck up on him and shot him in the back of the head.

Then how the Southerners celebrated, as they shouted out with glee. "we did it!" Lincoln the 16th president you'll go down in history.

Like Rudolph!

My story

I have a story and i was wondering if you like post comments please.

11 year old Julia Roberts thinks shes living a normal life. But her parents are always working leaving her older sister Macy in charge. Her grandma falls ill and her aunt comes to visit from New York. When news of a catagory 5 hurricane called Katrina spreads her family is forced into the superdome. But her grandma who is now forced to stay in the hospital wants Julias mother to stay with her. So she does. After the horrid hurricane ends her mother goes missing she has only the help of a mysterious spirit named jack.

thanks for reading don't forget to post!

Merry Christmas and happy new year.

Swimming Sensation

Swimming Sensation

By Maxine Tewsley

Hi. My name is Julia, but you need to call me Coach Julia. I am going to be your swim coach today. Now before we start I am going to tell you a story. Its about me when I was a 10 year old swimmer like all of you. Here's how it starts.

“Today.” announced Mr. Reagle my 5^th grade teacher. He had black hair with little strands of gray becoming more visible everyday. “I have an announcement,” he continued smiling broadly.
“Tomorrow we will have an Olympics!”

The class looked around at each other. “You can sign up here,” he said leaning his head toward a large white sheet of paper with black print hanging on the chalk board. “Line up.”

There was a large scraping of chairs and footsteps. I stayed close to my best friend Eliza. She had red hair and a face full of freckles. After a few minutes it was our turn to read the list of activities. I read them aloud to Eliza.

“Basketball, soccer, baseball, relay races, jump rope, hula hoop, football and swimming.” I wanted to swim so badly but I didn't want to race Eliza who was also a swimming.  I thought for a moment.

“Hurry up!” yelled a boy behind me.

I walked up to Mr. Reagle. "Swimming,” I said quietly.

“No problemo,” he said without looking up.

The rain outside was pounding hard on the windows so that meant no outside recess.

“Hi,” said Jack. He was tall and had brown hair.

“Hi,” I replied turning my back to Eliza who was sitting behind me.

“Are you participating?” I asked as Eliza kicked me in the shin from under the table.

“Swimming,” he sighed. “Against you," he continued.

“Cool. Eliza’s swimming too,” I said receiving yet another kick on the shin. I no longer wanted to be kicked so I turned back to Eliza.

Now let me interrupt you there if you think that’s funny coach Eliza will come give you a kick in the shin, anyway back to the story.

The rain had cleared up and I followed Eliza out of the school and down the the street. My stomach ached with hunger. My sisters brownies sounded good. I was happy me and Eliza were getting together. We would train for swimming the next day. As we passed Eliza’s big yellow house she realized she needed to get her swimsuit.

“Hey I wasn't going to swim in my clothes,” Eliza interrupts my story to say this.

“Eliza really?” I question her. I do not like her interrupting my story.

“Sorry,” Eliza says.

Ok, back to the story. So as I was saying we passed her house and ran inside blah blah blah. I dropped my heavy orange and blue twin falls swim bag on the ground. Laying down arms outstretched on the freshly cut grass. She popped her head out the open door. “Are you coming? We gotta get changed,” she asked. I left my bag on the ground retrieving only my swim suit from it and ran up the blacktop driveway.

Me and Eliza had agreed to go to the pond by her house. I waded in and Eliza followed behind me. Every step I took the water got deeper. Once the water reached my neck, I dived under the murky water for a couple seconds before popping my head back out. I couldn’t seem to find Eliza and all of a sudden she jumped on my back screaming.

“Boo!” she interrupted again

“Eliza quit telling my story!' I said annoyed

“Sorry,” she replied

As I was saying, I turned around pulling her under the water. “There is only one way to settle this,” I said.

“Race!' said Eliza finishing the sentence for me.

“Start there. Go to the other side. Hit the log and back.” I nodded and swam up to the bank.

“3.2.1 go!” I screamed jumping into the cold water.  I hit the water trying to keep in time with Eliza. I hit the log. My hand ached, but I turned around and did the same I did before. When I reached the bank I pulled my self up after Eliza.

I had a blue one piece swim suit with white polka-dots. Today was the Olympics. Jack was next to me and the kids on the bleachers were arguing about who would win. 

“Good morning,” said Mr.Reagle. 

“Good morning,” echoed the class. 

“Are you ready?” he said looking at us. We nodded. 

“3.2.1 go!” He sounded like I did yesterday I thought diving into cold water. I kept in time with Jack as I did with Eliza yesterday. There it was the end of the pool. The buzzer. I pushed and pulled myself out of the water. 

“Tie” yelled Mr.Reagle patting us both on back. I smiled. Jack did nothing. 

“Dry off, change, and meet us on the play ground.” said Mr.Reagle and off I went.

I stood cross legged by the hall outside Mrs. Rhoney's (the principals) office. She was lecturing two 8^th graders about texting in class. 

“Come in Julia,” she said as the two girls pushed past me. I sat down. 

“No need to sit down darling I just need you to go down to Mr. Reagle's classroom."  I nodded lifting myself out of the classroom. I walked down the long 5^th grade hallway and stepped into Mr.Reagles B-64 classroom.

"Hi Julia. I was wondering if you wanted to verse Jack again?” he asked quickly. I nodded surprised and willingly. Jack who I hadn't noticed was sitting in the corner tossed me my swim bag. 

“Go change and meet us in the pool,” said Mr.Reagle who was now walking down the hallway towards the music/band room was.  I met them back at the pool. I took my spot at the end of the pool. 

“3.2.1 go!” he sounded just like he did last year. I did the same I did last year stroking the water carefully trying not to make any errors. I saw the end of the pool, the buzzer there it was in front of me. I hit it hard before pulling myself out of the 9 feet deep pool. There was no Jack standing proudly on the edge. Eliza was cheering hard on the bleachers. I just won. Jack pulled himself out not bothering to hit the buzzer. He shook my hand no expression on his face. Mr.Reagle proudly gave me and Jack both pats on the back. 

“Now you two better get back to class,” he said looking at us. And off we were.

“O.K., you heard my story. Coach Jack will start you with backstrokes,"' I said. “Oh, and by the way don't tell Coach Jack I told you this story, he'll flip right into the pool. Seriously,” I continued.

“Why did you tell them that story!" said Jack running behind me. Splash

“Ow he landed on my head!” said Daniel one of my students

“Sorry.” said Jack.

“See what I mean.”

The Results Are In

The results are in.  Thank you every one for voting.  All one hundred and ten of you.  Yes, 110!

Third Place
20%: A piece on Tecumseh (22 votes)       


Second Place
29%: A historical fiction piece on the Salem Witch Trials (32 votes)       


First Place
49%: A World War I piece about kids living in Berlin, Germany (54 votes)     

I plan to post my blog on World War I by next Wednesday, but if my brother doesn't stop singing the Power Rangers theme song who knows how long it will take me.  Wish me luck. 

I curse the day my brother first saw that show!

 

 

What Should I Write?

Hi.   

So tonight I said, "Hey mom I haven't done a post on my blog in awhile."  So we started thinking of ideas.  I decided that I wanted to have a vote. Here are my ideas:

• A historical fiction piece on the Salem Witch Trials 
• A piece on Tecumseh 
• A World War I piece abut kids living in Berlin, Germany.  

You help me decide. Voting ends on the seventh of September.  I will post results that night and then around September 14th I will post a blog about the winning topic.  

So vote!

 

And, you can send me more ideas for blog post at maxine.tewsley@att.net. Your ideas will be on my blog with a special shout out to you when it comes out.  Thanks, please vote.

            

Signing off, 

Maxine Tewsley