A Lasting Impression

Debra Anderton’s “A Lasting Impression” is a short story of a mother, Dorothy, and her love for her family and the hardships she had had to go through and then her expected tragedy. The story is told through the words of one of the daughters, Debra. She informs us on Dorothy’s background, stating that she grew up in poverty with 9 other younger siblings, and even went as far as ending her education just to support her family. Dorothy even struggled with her own kids as a widow. She soon remarried though, but to an abusive man. All the stress in her life finally led Dorothy to an alcoholic lifestyle. For years she battled with this disease until Debra finally pronounced to her mother that she needed help. Instead of seeking professional though, Dorothy decided to try and quit on her own. Soon enough, she died. Debra explains that no matter what, her mother has impacted her in the most positive ways, even with her own children now. The overall theme is that we witness someone we love go through the many hardships in life so that we can learn from those hardships to better our own lives.