Growing Up In Hot Springs, Enchiladas

Growing up in the projects of Hot Springs, Arkansas was anything but a grand ole time. My mom was always heavily sedated due to a fifth of Vodka and multiple Hydrocodone. My mom rarely made it to work. When she did not get paid that meant we would go without water or electricity until she decided she wanted to go back to work. My mom worked as a caregiver and was paid under the table. She was not always this bad though, because when I try I can remember having fun with her. One time, on my birthday, she made enchiladas-my favorite dinner! She turned up the music really loud and let the neighbors come in to party. I know that it was mainly for her, but on that night I remember being truly happy. Life caught up with my mother and me. She was sent to jail and my siblings and I were sent to Hillcrest Children’s Home. I hated living there. All I wanted was to be with my mom again. She promised she would get us out after she got out of jail, but it was not until five years later that she finally was able to take us home. When I was finally home, I noticed nothing had changed. She was still doing drugs and drinking. About three months after returning home, my family moved to Russellville, …show more content…
One day after going to her lung doctor, Marie and her sister dragged me to a casino to gamble! I was furious because the casino allowed smoking and Marie had a tracheotomy and peg tube inserted. So, I said, “If you guys go in there do not expect me to hang around!” “If you need me I’ll be at the subway calling your daughter to tattle on you!” They laughed then called me Nurse Ratchet and it has stuck with me. I miss her every day and this essay has been very therapeutic. In life, you have certain moments that define who you are as a person and watching my grandmother take her last breath with a smile on her face is the single most important event of my life so