'Girls its time to get up and get going.' my very weary Aunt Deb said, as she is already dressed
and ready to go at 6:00 in the morning. I want to say, 'It's to early to get up yet.' but I
don't and I drag myself out of bed. She has always got us up at this time for almost four years
now. My grandma, right across the hall, is still in bed and won't get up until 9:00 because she
stays up late to watch the news for the weather forecast. And we can expect a note on the table
telling us what the weather is. If not about the weather, there is something on the note telling us
not to forget this, don't forget that or I washed the clothes, folded them up, and put them on so
sos dresser. But always she puts drive safely. I love you all. Many of these things I take for
granted when I say, 'Well, why can't she get up with us?' Even though I complain and whine, my
grandma and Aunt Deb have never forgotten all of those things that most mothers and fathers are
meant to do. Through the heartache my parents have caused never once have they stopped to rethink,
complain, or find an excuse not to take care of me and my sister. If I could have one wish, I would
wish that my parents acted like parents not dead beats on the side of the road that don't give a
damn about anyone or anything. Because when my parents rejected me at first I thought it was my
fault, then I got mad at the thought of them. While I worked hard at work and at school, my mother
lied, cheated, and stole money from me. A person has sunk pretty low when they have to steal money
from their own children. Before my Aunt Deb and Grandma took us away, the Darke County police took
us away and gave us (my sister and I) to family services, who put us into foster care for three
years. During that time we only saw our mother one hour per week then gradually one day per week,
then finally on the weekends. Because of foster care it ruined my sisters' trust in anyone. When a
person leaves her alone she will flip out because she thinks that they will never come back. All my
mother did was work and sleep. It was like she did not even notice that she had children to take
care of. But what hurts me most of all this that not once in fifteen years has she said, 'Honey
I'm so proud of you.' After having her children taken away a person would think that's he
would get her act together but nooo she does the same thing. At 38 years old, a person should be
able to take care of themselves, but apparently not for even for my mother who has had many
opportunities. The only thing I could possible learn from my mother is what not to do. My father is
a totally different story. My father and mother met in the Navy. Everything was going magnificent
until I came along on a cold February day at Porthsmith, Virginia, Naval Hospital. Then the abuse
toward my mother started. During the custody battle in Philadelphia, my father refused to do
anything the judge said to be able to get me. He didn't even show up for the finale battle! When I
got older and heard that it was like a slap in the face. Then to top it all off he kidnapped me when
I was two years old and took me all the way up to Chicago until he finally brought me back. The
turmoil he put the rest of my family through I can only imagine. When my sister and I were in foster
care he came to see us for two days and ever since then he has never come back. Because he is not
around I try to think that some force unseen is holding him back and that he is not seeing us be his
own choice. I can watch and wait and hope of a glimpse of him but I have to face that he is never
coming back. The only lesson I can possible learn form my father is what not to do, just like my
mother. My 'real parents', if you what to call them that is my grandma and my Aunt Deb. They
took us away from that terrible, hate filled home into a loving, understanding environment. Never
once even though they are 61 and 56 have they complained about the turmoil my sister and I have put
them through with our very demanding schedules. Through the agitating schedules and head aching
attitudes we always at the end of the day find time to be a family. Kids here ask me, 'How can you
live with your aunt?' She must be terrible to live with, always bossing you around. However, in
reality, if only the kids here could see this side of her, she is very understanding and is a angel.
She would give you her coat off her back if that was all she had. If you follow her rules, she is
fine if not you and she might tango but probably not. If I had one wish to change anything here, I
would not. The love that my other family members have shown us I did not even know existed.
'Grandma I need my jeans now!' I shouted with authority. As she got out of her purple chair and
looked at me with a scolding face, but she said in a mild voice, 'I will get on that as soon as I
can.' She does all of the little extra things that I don't even think about like making sure my
cell phone is paid for on time. Without my grandma and my Aunt Deb, I would be so lost and confused
in life. In addition, for all I know I could be in foster care. From going from my old life to my
new life, I count blessings as though they were clovers growing in patches in the clover patch just
outside the window. My parents might not be there to take care of my sister and me, but we have
someone we can depend on for anything. They stand beside us not in front or behind us. The lesson I
can learn from them is that even when a person gets old they can still make a difference in another
person's life. To show love to someone who needs it, that person will never know how much it
matters.