extended family
All about how to stay connected, strengthen ties and talk politics with your big, happy extended family.
To My Favorite Person,
Dear Yodael, Who would’ve thought my cousin would become my best friend? I definitely did not expect it, but I’m happy. Over these two years, you’ve helped me in so many ways and you’ve always been there for me whenever I need you. So I’m writing this letter as a way of saying that I’m happy to have you in my life.
By PoeticQueen4 years ago in Families
It’s the climb
I started getting tattoos when I was 16. I am now 19 and have 6 professional tattoos and 4 stick n pokes which I did myself. The mountains here on my ankle in the picture posted was my 3rd tattoo I’ve ever gotten done. I’ve always loved tattoos and dreamt of getting them as a child. Once I hit 16, I jumped at the opportunity to start getting tatted up.
By kailey houle4 years ago in Families
Papa Bob and Pooh Bear
I have eight tattoos, all with some meaning. Most of them are sad. I have a rose for my estranged mother on my ribcage, a tiny R2D2 for an abusive ex (I’ve never even seen Star Wars), a skeleton bird with sunflowers marking a sad, lost, childhood that I find myself grieving over from time to time. But my favourite tattoo isn’t sad at all. Most people will see it and ask something along the lines of “Oh my gosh, is that Winnie the Pooh on your leg?” and I tell them that it is and I’ll pull my pant leg up or my sock down and give them a better look. “So cute!”, they exclaim “I used to love Winnie the Pooh!”
By Lowak Hushi4 years ago in Families
Kenya’s Family Party Politics
This time last year I was in Kenya swinging from one party to another. This year all I got are travel refunds and e-vouchers… thank you KQ. However, I have great memories and I look forward to the death of corona and the inevitable parties that will ensue.
By Things I hear4 years ago in Families
How to Use DNA Tests to Trace Your Ancestry
One of the most frequently asked questions across the internet is “How do you track your family history?”. Though we mostly focus on tracing ancestry through paper and online records, there are many other ways to do that. DNA testing is one of them.
By Rose Patterson4 years ago in Families
The Monetta's Settle in America
The Monetti’s as we know them date back to the Province of Salerno in the the Campania region. Carman Monetta and my great-great grandmother Michela (Magra) Magro obviously hung a different vowel at the end of the family name and begins on a chestnut farm in the town of Ponte di Cagnano.
By Rich Monetti4 years ago in Families
It’s A Westside Story(Part 1)
Brooklynn Rodriguez was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She is 24. Westside has eight siblings; Madison Thomas, the twins; Melisa and Alisa Rodriguez, and Kelly K.“ Well that’s some of our sisters.” Brooklynn is the eldest of her known siblings, but not the oldest of her unknown siblings. Brooklynn has many nicknames including; Westside, Westside Brookye, and Brookye. Westside is a brilliant young woman, and she is more of a family person. Brooklyn has a sense of style. She dresses like a girl and a tomboy, and she’s very outgoing as well as laid back (that’s if you don’t make her mad). Some of her other character traits are that she is VERY nonchalant but quick to get mad rude!
By Cameyhia Powell4 years ago in Families
Living with a Narcissist
The reason I decided to add a trigger warning is because I am a straight male and we live in an age where so much can be assumed about me just because I am male . I am a sociologist in North America, and I think at this point it’s important to understand that just because I say no to something it’s not because I have any biases towards anybody and yes I have been aggravated by a female, but the difference between being bitter and being me is that I have not given up on myself , humanity or the goodness of other men and women. Sorry , but I had to make a disclaimer to cover all the slanderous comments internet trolls like to leave below content that could threaten their narrative.
By Hakeem Simmons4 years ago in Families
Cuba 2016
A cousin is diagnosed with stage four breast cancer and wants to go back to Cuba. She wants to bring the dog she left at her mother-in-law’s house, to the beach for the first time. The phone rings at 6:00 am that morning. I answer my cell to a frantic voice on the other end. She says “I had a dream last night and haven’t been able to go back to sleep since. I have been trying to figure out how to make it happen and I need your help.”. Still a little dazed I answered “Sure, What’s up?”. She replies “In my dream I was able to bring Thor to the beach. I have not had a chance to do that yet. I know he will just love it. Sorry for calling so early but this has been on my bucket list since my diagnosis. Will you come to Cuba with me so I can do this?”. A little more awake now, I say “of course! But have you talked to your doctors and when do we leave?”. Fast forward to a beach in Cuba with a sick cousin who has lost all her hair and her oh so happy dog. Thor is frolicking in the water and running through the sand. My cousin is enjoying every minute of it from her towel on the beach. She can’t move much without hurting but watching her dog have the kind of fun she knew he would brings the biggest smile to her face. She forgets her pain for just that one perfect moment. She looks down at the sand and sees a sea shell. The sea shell in this picture. She holds it up for me so I can take a picture of it. The years that pass aren't so easy. I try to be there for my cousin who is going through so much. Fast forward now to 2019. I get to hold my cousin’s hand in the hospital before her last dying breaths. The hand that held that small shell those few years before. That picture reminds me that I was a small part of getting her to Cuba to cross that item off her bucket list and the happiness that trip to rustic Cuba brought her. I did not edit that photo and left it as raw as she was at the time. I hope one day to get that image tattooed near my breast as a symbol of love and respect for the woman that battled a disease that robs so many of a normal life. Some survive and some do not, but my cousin will live on in my heart forever and so will the moments that brought us together. I feel fortunate to have been a part of a life that was cut so short. Fortunate to have had my camera with me to capture that moment in time that I can never get back. Someone once asked me why I take so many pictures when I’m out in nature and why can’t I just put my camera down and enjoy the moment. First off, for me, viewing the world through my camera is me living in the moment. Secondly, I can call up those images anytime I want, to relive those moments over and over again. Something that will be more precious to me as my actual memories fade. There are photos that make me smile, some that make me cry and some that invoke emotions that only a certain photo can provide like the one I have shared with you here today. So let’s capture many more of those photos in life! Photos full of colour, meaning and love, now and always!
By Anna Spano Guarino4 years ago in Families
Gone again
Carlita’s, my niec, birthday isn’t on February 7th. She wanted to go back to Las Vegas. We had planned to go. Stayce, my other niece and Carlita’s sister contacted the condo where she had a timeshare, and could not get the 7 th, but got the 9th thru the 13th. They are both daughters of Cherry.
By Sandy Austin4 years ago in Families