Baba Vicky was the strongest, sweetest, smartest person I have ever met. I would tell her often, but she was too humble to accept my praise. Her reply: “I try my best . . . but how can you say that? I have broken English…I can’t read or write … I’m dumb . . .”Continue reading “Blessing #9: Memories of the Matriarch”
Author Archives: Pauline Hawkins
Jump, Bubby. Jump.
Ian is a tough little boy. He runs fast, jumps high, and falls hard. If he cries, it’s because he really got hurt. His Cancer battle has made him stronger than I could have imagined, no thanks to me. My husband deserves all the credit for this one. After Ian’s diagnosis, he needed to haveContinue reading “Jump, Bubby. Jump.”
Miracles Never Cease
This past week Ian had a checkup with his oncologist. We already knew his February MRI came back clear. We don’t sleep much until we get the results, so the doctor called us as soon as he received the scans. Every time Ian has an MRI we worry that it will reveal something abnormal. IContinue reading “Miracles Never Cease”
The Alchemist: Introduction and #1 Personal Calling
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho An alchemist is a person who changes a common substance into a substance of great value. I knew before opening the book, I was going to love what was inside. As a matter of fact, after I read the introduction, I knew The Alchemist was a book I needed to slowlyContinue reading “The Alchemist: Introduction and #1 Personal Calling”
Blessings 5-8: My Closest Friends
I’ve always been a one-person friend. I may have had a number of girls I hung out with, but there was always just one girl I truly considered my friend at different times in my life. I also had a lot of guy friends, and at times I felt closer to them than I didContinue reading “Blessings 5-8: My Closest Friends”
Blessing #4: The Man, Not the Father
Blessings My father was a wonderful man, but a horrible father. Most of my childhood memories are negative. I know there are other memories besides the criticisms, the beatings, and the drunken rages, but I have a hard time accessing them. I’ll try to remember a nice family dinner—there had to be tons of them—but everyContinue reading “Blessing #4: The Man, Not the Father”
Blessing #3: My Mother’s Heart
Everything I have learned about love came from my mother. Even when it doesn’t make a lot of sense to give, she gives to a loved one without batting an eye. I attribute this to her tender heart; however, one does not become tender without a lot of pain (meat is tenderized by beating it).Continue reading “Blessing #3: My Mother’s Heart”
Blessing #2: God Gave Me Nicole
Blessings I don’t regret my past. It’s made me who I am today. People are shocked when I say that after hearing about my less-than-ideal upbringing: My father was an abusive alcoholic; I was beaten many times during his drunken rages. Also, as a girl, I had less value in my European family than my brothers;Continue reading “Blessing #2: God Gave Me Nicole”
32 Blessings and Blessing #1: Ian Is Alive and Well
Blessings To say my life has been difficult the last month is an understatement. In early December I was humming a sweet tune while I traveled along the path of my dream life; then, I was yanked out of my reverie and forced to see a different reality, one filled with lies, betrayals, and pain.Continue reading “32 Blessings and Blessing #1: Ian Is Alive and Well”
