“Dad was born and raised in Texas. After marrying our mother, who became pregnant with me, he got a job teaching high school science in Tula Rosa, New Mexico. It’s northwest of Cloudcroft (a village within Lincoln National Forest). They would go to Cloudcroft on … Continue readingFamily scatters dad’s ashes at the place he loved
“It was the summer of 2015. We were all living in Florida when my sister and mother went back to our home country of Trinidad for vacation. My dad also got sent there to work, so I was home alone. “I was never very good … Continue readingDrowning tragedy has ripple effect on family
“I had twin older brothers. They were mirror twins. One was right-handed and the other was left-handed. Throughout their lives, whatever happened to one always seemed to happen to the other. Every time Victor would break a bone or something, Vernis would, too. There were … Continue readingLifetime pattern finally takes mirror twins’ lives
“A friend of mine called and wanted me to go shopping with her. I was gone most of the day, while my husband was at home babysitting the grandkids. About 1:30 when they got picked up, everything was fine. Then I called him at 3, … Continue readingHeart attack steals ‘wonderful’ family man
“I was a wrecker driver for many years. Toward the end it got really old, especially when the phone rings all night long at your house. “When it’s the police calling, you never know what kind of scene you’re going to drive up on. I … Continue readingWrecker driver saw his share of bad accidents
“My husband and daughter did the daddy-and-me swim class when she was young. I remember him putting her under water. I freaked out. I had a hard time with it, feeling anxious with children and their safety. But now here I am, all these years … Continue readingShe teaches self-rescue swimming lessons for kids
“I turned 76 last month. Never thought I’d live this long. I’ve had a bunch of medical problems. Right now, it’s my legs. I’ve got peripheral artery disease, where the veins get all stopped up. I’m hoping I can do away with this walker pretty … Continue readingDespite health issues, ‘Fat Mac’ keeps on going
“In the fifth grade, I went to a forensic science camp. That’s what inspired me to want to become a medical examiner. “I know it’s going to take a really strong stomach. It’s also going to take a lot of compassion and a lot of … Continue readingShe has qualities to become medical examiner
“I met her in a bar at the Holiday Inn back in ’73. I was sitting there, and she was on a barstool. I said, ‘I’m going to walk over there and talk to her.’ That was it. If she were still here, we would … Continue reading‘I always thought that I would go before her’
“My father passed away in February. We miss him so much. He and my mother were married 55 years. We were all really close. It’s just crazy now that he’s not around. “He had pulmonary fibrosis. He was admitted to the hospital in December, and … Continue reading‘I had my hand on his chest when he died’