Blog Post - Far From Home

I’m still reading “They Poured Fire on us From the Sky” and the boys situations haven’t gotten any better. The way they yearn for home tears at my empathetic side because I too am getting used to a life not at all like it was before. I may not have to worry about lions snatching me in the night as the authors do, but not having a stable family unit leaves me vulnerable none the less. I grew up with my mother and father, and although we went through so much due to my father’s nonsense, love always prevailed. I could still come home at the end of the day and know my father was there to keep us safe while my mom took care of us in every other way.

When Alpheo and the other boys begin to chant “This isn’t your mama’s home!” to each other, it begins to toughen them up. This wasn’t the case for me, it in fact made me worry. My parents as of last night decided to divorce and move apart, meaning, the safety I feel from my father is now compromised since he will no longer be an everyday part of my life. Its worst than a best friend or girl friend moving away because at the end of the day you don’t need them, while I can always learn from and count on my father. My mother decided to move into an apt alone, she needs time to gather her thoughts and reboot. I don’t rely on her as much but cooking for myself doesn’t sit too well with me.

This pales in comparison to the boys who have lost their fathers completely, with no family unit existing. I try to picture myself as Alpheo, lost; knowing all efforts are futile in the end, but I can’t. It just doesn’t apply to my reality. I can only truly feel for them when reminiscing about what once was.