We were eager to hear what he had to say. Luca was born with Down syndrome. He was the best thing about our family, but we had a hard time with him talking. We used dolls, sign language, therapy, and flashcards, among other things. It didn’t stick. He used to hum, clap, and make a sweet little noise. By the time he was three, we were used to it. But no words. Maris, his big sister, never gave up on him. He talks to her like he’s just another kid at school even though she’s six years old and thirty.…
Author: World Wide
I was setting up a nursery six months ago and trying to decide whether to use cloth diapers or throwaway diapers. My life was about to turn upside down twice, and I had no idea it would. It began with a dull pain in my thigh. I thought it might have something to do with being pregnant, like a twisted nerve or sciatica. Things got worse. I got through it because I wanted to enjoy every moment with my daughter Liora after she was born. I was crazy about that new baby smell and those little fingers. But the pain…
Less than a week after the deadly insurrection at the United States Capitol, ice cream makers Ben & Jerry’s came forward with a statement denouncing white supremacy. As Donald Trump leaves the White House, and President Joe Biden is sworn into office as the 46th president of the United States, America is at a pivotal moment in history. Will America reunited and worked together to deal with the deadly virus and systemic , or will the country continue to pull the wool over its eyes? Although Ben & Jerry’s is a simple ice cream manufacturer, the company has always separated…
Her training wheels had been wobbly for weeks, but I kept putting it off. Between double shifts and trying to stretch my last paycheck, it just wasn’t at the top of the list. I told her to ride carefully, that we’d “get to it soon.” Then the back wheel completely gave out at the park. She didn’t fall—thank God—but she sat on that bench with her chin trembling, holding one of her plastic princess pedals like it was a broken limb. Her white dress was smudged with dirt, her curls were falling out of their braids, and I could just…
I used to stare at the bathroom mirror and not recognize the guy looking back. After the blast, everything changed—my face, my voice, the way strangers looked at me. I couldn’t eat right for months. I couldn’t sleep. People avoided eye contact or gave me that pity smile that stings worse than a slap. At first, I wore a hoodie everywhere. Airports. Coffee shops. Even on base. I’d hear whispers, see phones sneak a picture. I hated being “that Marine with the face.” But what I hated more was the silence. No one ever asked what happened. Not really. Not…
Kid Rock’s latest meltdown unfolded at Jon Bon Jovi’s Nashville bar, where he stormed off stage mid-performance, furious over what he perceived as a lackluster audience response. The 54-year-old American Bad Ass singer made a surprise appearance at JBJ’s Nashville on Saturday, Feb. 8, to celebrate Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan’s birthday. However, when the crowd didn’t clap to his satisfaction, Rock lost his temper, lashed out, and abruptly ended his set. Footage captures the moment the Cowboy singer was initially welcomed with applause as he joined David Bryan, best known as keyboardist for Bon Jovi. He recently celebrated his…
I just needed a few screws. That’s all. Just a quick trip to Lowe’s, in and out. But life has a way of throwing wrenches into the simplest plans. As I rolled through the store, I heard it before I felt it—snap. Then suddenly, the right wheel of my chair wobbled, and before I could react, it gave out completely. I barely caught myself before hitting the ground. A couple of customers glanced over but kept walking. Embarrassment flooded my face as I struggled to adjust. The chair was useless now. “Hey, you okay?” I looked up to see a…
It had been a brutal day. Twelve hours on my feet, running from room to room, dealing with emergencies, short staffing, and a patient yelling at me for something out of my control. Being a nurse was exhausting on the best days, but today? Today was worse. Because when I finally got to my car, drained and desperate to go home, I found an eviction notice taped to my door. I stared at it, my brain too tired to process. Rent had been late, sure, but I thought I had more time. Apparently not. In three weeks, I’d have nowhere…
He passed them down before he died, and I keep them in a shadow box on our wall. My stepdaughter recently asked if she could take them for a school project. I told her no—they’re irreplaceable. Today, I noticed the box was open. The medals were gone. I turned to my husband. He looked guilty. “She just wanted to show her class,” he mumbled. “It’s not a big deal.” Then my phone rang. It was her school. She had traded them. For stickers. I hung up. My hands were shaking. I turned back to my husband. And then I lost…
