|
Danica Tremblay Dhinel is
an 18 year old girl who is graduating from E.S.C. l’Horizon this year.
She would like to share a story she wrote with the readers of The Vision
Paper. This is her first published writing and we think you will all agree
that she has a special gift that should be shared more often. The story is
about her cousin, Jesse.
Thank you, Danica, for allowing us the privilege
of publishing such a remarkable piece of work.
|
“I’m
a frequent reader of the Vision Paper and the inspiring stories that
Robert Kirwan publishes, and enjoy writing myself. As I read his
story entitled Grandpa’s Girl I thought a lot about my own
grandfather. But of course I also think of the grave situated right
beside it. Jesse Tremblay, my cousin who unfortunately had to leave
the world at the young age of one. Although I couldn’t possibly
have known him, I miss him and wish he could be here with us. Seeing
the story Robert Kirwan had published about those wonderful girls
and thinking of my own family and my personal thoughts on life, I,
myself, wrote a story to hopefully inspire others the way I have
been inspired.” Danica Tremblay Dhinel
|
Thank
You Jesse.
You Will Be In My Heart Forever.
By
Danica Tremblay Dhinel
Every
year on my grandfather’s birthday I visit the cemetery in his home town
and put flowers on his grave. I stay with him for a while telling him
stories of my life and the exciting news that happened over the year. And
every year as I sit there speaking into the ground I always notice the
tombstone placed right next to it. It was my cousin’s, Jesse. On one
particular day I sat there in front of his grave and read the black and
white marble, as I’ve done before, only this time something hit me
inside. The stone read:
|
“In
loving memory of
Jesse
Tremblay
A
wonderful son
and
grandson.
April 23rd, 1989
-
September 22nd, 1990
You
are not forgotten”
|
As
I finished reading tears began to fill my eyes. I fell to my knees and
cried for what seemed like hours. I had already known for years that my
cousin had died at the age of one, as I was two at the time. I cried for
little Jesse, I cried for his mother and father, and all of those in his
family that have been left behind. I had never really been able to get to
know him, as much as we were inseparable as young children, and I will
never know him, but for some reason, as I sat there in front of his grave
the world seemed to be a little darker. I became appalled that this little
boy only a year old was taken from the world so soon. He wasn’t even
given the chance at living life. Then it occurred to me how much the world
takes life for granted. How everyone never seems satisfied enough with
what they have. No one seems to understand that we have all been given
something greater then anything in the world, our lives and a chance to
live a life that is our own. Jesse will never grow up to go through
puberty, he’ll never get a chance to learn how to shave, or go on his
first date. He’ll never have the chance to get into a fight with his
parents or stand up for himself in a fight at school. He’ll never be
able to make decisions, good or bad. He’ll never go to college or
university and he’ll never get to laugh and play and love and he’ll
never ever get hurt and he will never overcome fears or challenges. Jesse
will never get to meet his two sisters and brother who miss him and love
him dearly even if he was lost before they we’re born. Jesse wasn’t
even given a chance and yet we all walk around day and night taking our
very breath for granted. We complain about the small things and ignore the
important things in life.
I
wiped away my tears, smiled and whispered under my breath “Thank you
Jesse.”
Every
year on my grandfather’s birthday I visit the cemetery in his home town
and put flowers on his grave. I stay with him for a while telling him
stories of my life and the exciting news that happened over the year. I
also never forget to bring an extra bunch of flowers and place them on the
grave right next to it, my cousin’s, a boy who, although wasn’t given
a chance and I unfortunately could never get to know, showed me that I
still had a chance. He showed me how to live. He showed me that if I just
slow down and take the time to breathe, life does seem all that much more
beautiful.
Jesse
was my best friend when I was two and even if he did pass away so young,
he will be my best friend forever, and forever he remains in my heart. I
will never forget him and the lesson of life he taught me.
|
