By Josh Hart

The Team My family describes themselves as being a team. No matter what

happens we are always there for each other. There is a sense of trust engrained within us, and we are all equal members of the team all trying to achieve the same goal.

On this team there are technically two families. The Hart family and the Cole family. They have come together as one team, and fight side by side to make sure each member of the family is happy.

Roles within the team “In other words, husband, wife, parent, child,

grandparent, and grandchild are names of roles that people assume as they go through life. The roles describe two thing: how one person is related to another, and how this particular role is lived out.”

Virginia Satir, The New Peoplemaking

Family Communication, Chapter 6

Lynn

Height: 5’6’’Weight: 130lbsAge: 48Position: MotherAbilities: Lynn is my mother. Her role on the team is to be there for her children as a nurturer. She is also the breadwinner for her family, she is financially responsible and wants the best future for her children. Her combined functions make her essential to the team, and one of it’s most important pieces.

Paul

Height: 6’0’’Weight: 170lbsAge: 52Position: FatherAbilities: Paul is my father. He is the life of the family. He is an extremely hard worker and wants his values and idea to become his children’s. He is my best friend and is supportive in whatever his kids may do. His role in the family is to keep everybody in line.

CaseyHeight: 5’2”Weight: 125lbsAge: 18Position: SisterAbilities: Casey is my sister. She will be leaving home soon for college but her role on the team is as relevant as ever. She is the stern of the family. She is so emotionally powerful, that nothing fazes her. She keeps everyone heading in the right direction, and cannot be thrown off track of what she is trying to succeed.

JoeHeight: 4’ 10”Weight: 95lbsAge: 10Position: BrotherAbilities: Joe is my little brother and may be one of the most important members of the family. Joe keeps everyone smiling. He is the one who calms everyone down and is the center of almost all of our lives. His role in the family may be a young dependent child, but what he does for me as an older brother is keep me youthful.

Obed and Faith

Height: 5’11” and 5’1”Weight: 172lbs and 110lbsAge: 82 and 78Position: Grandmother and GrandfatherAbilities: Obed and Faith are my dad’s parents. They are the origins of the family. They are the elders, the wise and powerful ancestors if you will. Everyone turns to them, and their role as guardians is one of the most important on the team.

JessHeight: 5’1”Weight: 115lbsAge: 22Position: GirlfriendAbilities: Joe was always the most important person in my life, but Jess has taken over that role over the last five years. She is the glue that holds me and the rest of the team together. She is sweet but stern. She puts a smile on everyone’s face, and carries the team through thick and thin.

TerriHeight: 5’1”Weight: 105lbsAge: 47Position: Mama ColeAbilities: Terri is the most nurturing caring person you will ever meet. I call her Mama Cole because she is like a mother to me. To call her my second mother would be devaluing her importance. She is the head of the team, and the nurturer to all.

DaleHeight: 5’9”Weight: 200lbsAge: 56Position: Papa ColeAbilities: Dale is Jessica’s father, and just like his wife I would not hinder his value by calling him my second father. He is the biggest example of a typical male role on the team. He is the breadwinner, he takes care of the house, he is the head of the team. He does not speak a lot but through his actions he has taught me so much about life.

Joyce and Barbara

Height: 5’3” and 5’2”Weight: 135lbs and 130lbsAge: 82 and 80Position: GrandmothersAbilities: Joyce and Barbara may be old, but they are the foundation of the team. Joyce is Dale’s mother and Barbara is Terri’s mother. They have both lost their husbands, and have become the storytellers of the team. They are constantly bringing everyone together, and their stories turn family rituals into fun filled feasts.

Part of the Team

Being part of this team I have learned so much about myself. I have gone from a son, to a brother, to a boyfriend, to an uncle. My role on this team is ever changing, but my understanding of the importance of giving everything to the people who love you has grown. This team is my life, and I will stand by them no matter what.

What I have become…