This I Believe

Margo Johnston 705                                                                                     November 8, 2012

“This I Believe” Essay

When I was about 6 or 7 years old, I went to my first funeral. The women who died, Linda, wasn’t a blood relative, and we weren’t even close with her husband, but we still went. I can remember seeing the woman’s brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. I can remember looking at pictures of her and noticing how young she looked. How unexpected it must’ve been. When I saw Linda’s kids, I tried to put myself in their positions, but it seemed so weird. But when I thought about it, I realized how it was just as good a chance for it to happen to my family as it was to theirs.

            Though the death didn’t really have an affect on my family, it did change my view on it. I’ve always loved my family, but going to the funeral made me realize how important family really is. When I got home I remember immediately wanting to spend time with my family, as if it was going to be the end of the world. Instead of going out and having a big reunion with my cousins and aunts and uncles, I chose to stay in and hang out with just my parents and sister. It wasn't the same as a big reunion, but it made me feel thankful for my family.

            A couple months after the funeral, my cousin Nikki was diagnosed with cancer. It was a big deal to my family especially because Nikki had just had a baby and had recently gotten married. Even though it wasn’t a bad case, and we knew nothing too bad would happen to her, it still brought my family together. It taught everybody how you could lose somebody at anytime, just like how Linda’s family lost her. I had already known how important family was, but not my other relatives. In a couple of months Nikki was better than ever and pregnant with her 2^nd child, as if nothing had ever happened.

            Going to that funeral really helped me understand the importance of family, and how anything could happen at any time. The funeral will always be in my mind and I will now know how important it is to stay close with my family, just like I did when my cousin got sick. That is why I believe in family.