What Made Me A Stronger Me

Growing up in a small Florida town, the author's family and they often attended church services and followed Christ as their Lord and Savior. They also lived near their maternal grandparents, who were close friends. One day, the author's grandmother smashed her arm, leading to her mother's warning about consequences. The mystery behind a failed molestation attempt remains unsolved, the author never slept over at her grandmother's home again. One Sunday, the author's cousins and aunt went on a trampoline ride, and the author got two hairline fractures in her right leg. After her maternal grandma passed away from diabetes, the author formed a close bond with her grandfather. The grandfather would take them shopping and share stories of his wartime experiences. Their friendship deepened with age and survived his second marriage. A prostate tumor was discovered after one year, and the doctor operated immediately and started chemotherapy. After chemo, the patient appeared to be in remission. However, the author's grandfather began experiencing double visions on the drive home, which led to his death. The author's brother took him to appointments, and the author's step grandmother shared a room, where he took his last breath. The night he died, the sky was clear and calm, and their pastor prayed for them. The author recalls walking in the woods near their house with best friend Starlight, where they noticed three unrelated carcasses and heard something walking behind them. They ran away, but none of their family believed them. They also remember getting a barn kitten from Starlight, named George, who was initially sweet but later became sassy due to an allergic reaction to a flea spray. Peter got a gray and white male cat named Snowflake, who initially ignored him but eventually pounced on her. She would run in terror when Snowflake tried to play back, making her behavior funny but not funny at the same time. The author enjoyed being in the choral group from middle school through junior year in high school, but never had the opportunity to further their instrumental knowledge. In sixth grade, they broke an ankle and had to have a pin put in, which affected their ability to learn vocally. After the choral group ended, the author continued singing in a choir, as they were part of the church's choir. During this time, the author's brother Peter had been caught sleeping with his girlfriend and he charged at the author before the girlfriend pulled him away, the author was too scared to tell them about it. The author realizes that they should have said something about the incident, as it still haunts them. The author recounts their experiences with clubbing, and the fun they had with friends. They were able to enjoy the company of their father Dan, who worked at a local Ford dealership. They learned how to change tires, brakes, and fix spark plugs from him. One day, they blamed a fish for eating their ice cream, which led to a heated argument with Uncle Jack. As a senior in high school, they took an ASFAB test to determine their compatibility for the military. Despite not being a great test taker, they excelled in the mechanics section, outperforming most other students.