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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Writing (01/11/07)
Dear Bea,

It’s been such a long time. I am so sorry that I haven’t kept in touch. I hope that you are doing well. Actually I know that you are doing really great, which is why I haven’t called. The things that have happened since I last talked to you are not easy to talk about. I just don’t want to bring anyone down. But I really do miss you so much. I just had to stop thinking about everything for awhile.

I think about you all the time. Do you remember the last time we actually had some fun together? I will never forget how you took me shopping and then hung out with me in the swimming pool all afternoon. You didn’t want me to go home until you had shown me a good time.

I have never told anyone about it. When I think back, it was really such a miracle, and such an act of love on your part. You had just gotten out of the hospital! You had brain surgery, sister, on my 44th birthday, July the first. Then, you were discharged on the Fourth of July! Independence Day! God was telling me that you were free! That was a total miracle. I’m so glad that you believed in Jesus. It got us through all the worry. Oh, and I loved going to that huge church out there in Phoenix with you and your grandson, Jordan. I had to be with you, you know, during all of those complicated surgeries. It didn’t matter that I live so far away. You are my big sis. You were scared. I guess I didn’t tell you then that I was scared, too. I wanted to be strong for you.

I have told everyone what a wild and crazy sis you are. As soon as we left the hospital, you wanted to go shopping! So we went. Now I believe that you didn’t want to do it for just for you. You did it for me. Then you took me swimming at the pool at your apartment complex. You in your bathing suit, with about twenty staples going from behind your ear down to your collar bone.

I remember the day I left Phoenix for Toledo. I didn’t want to leave. But I had to get home to take care of my own family. I knew Jenny would do her best to take care of you. She was only sixteen then, but you are her mom. I had faith that she could handle it. And Jackie was there to take you to radiation treatments. The doctors were positive. I felt so sure when I left that you were on your way back to health.

When you got sick again, I just didn’t know how to deal with it. I know now how ridiculous that sounds. You were the one with the big problem. Even though my head was reeling with all of my own family stuff, you know. Remember Lauren had just had four wisdom teeth removed, and then she had that allergic reaction to the antibiotics? And Cory had just had those pins removed from his hips. That was a major surgery. They were back home waiting for me. Don wasn’t able to handle all the kids problems alone.

I wish that I could be with you. I’m sure Jenny is so big and different now too, all graduated from high school and everything. I just don’t know how to talk to her. Ever since you passed away, she has not wanted to have anything to do with me. Jackie and Jordan sent me a text message at Christmas, but they did not reply to my reply. I have called so many times, but they didn’t answer. I guess they must think that I didn’t pray hard enough. I can’t blame them for that. I have felt that way the majority of the last four years…that is, that I didn’t pray hard enough for you. I thought I had let you and everyone else down. .

But now, I know that you are with Jesus. Because of that, I know that you forgive me for the things I can’t seem to forgive myself for. I’m working on that, though.

When I pray, sometimes I ask Jesus to say hi to you for me. Someday, you’ll be able to tell me if you got my messages.

Love, your sis,
D-
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Joanne Sher 
01/19/07

Very sweet and heartfelt. I absolutely LOVED
When I pray, sometimes I ask Jesus to say hi to you for me. Someday, you’ll be able to tell me if you got my messages.

Some of the details seemed a bit distracting from the main story, but that is just my opinion. I enjoyed this!
Betty Castleberry
01/20/07
This was very touching.
You might want to limit the exclamation points you use in your pieces, but that's a minor thing.
Keep writing. You have a way of connecting with the readers emotions.
Jan Ackerson
01/20/07
I was quite struck by the image of the sister in her bathing suit, with the staples from the surgery. Quite moving.