I have always loved Applejack and it is something I have said many times but with today being the 2nd anniversary of my fathers death I am reminded of one of the reasons that I believe really sealed the deal for me and made me have a strong bond with Applejack in particular and there is a hint in the picture below.

The death of Applejacks parents, orphans have been a long time trope in literature, TV, comics, cartoons, video games and just every media that has ever existed and ever will exist but something about Applejack's case in particular is special to me. It is never explicitly stated in the show itself because it was judged to be too tragic for the show's "target audience" but is confirmed by the writers and was hinted at in Apple Family Reunion which is my favorite episode of the series.

But again what about Applejack's story pulls at my heartstrings? It is because these experiences remind me a great deal of my own. Applejack faced hardship early on by having to take responsibility for the family farm and to help raise her younger sister Applebloom and while my experience wasn't exactly like that there is a lot of similarity. I was diagnosed at age 2 with Autism after exhibiting severe behavioral problems and losing what little language I had, I had to work a lot harder just to learn things that most people take for granted like basic socialization, what is appropriate and innapropriate, how to handle stress and even learning how to talk. Fast forward to age 12 and though I still had many issues I was on the school honor role and though I did go through bullying did have some friends but it was at this time that my grandmother passed away unexpectedly at the age of 64 which is only 4 years older than my mother is now. Fast forward to my early 20's and my grandfather is in a coma due to complications of trying to remove a brain tumor and as per his will the feeding tube was pulled which I had serious moral concerns with and still do to this day.

And then there is of course my father he was sick for most of his adult life he nearly died from Polio during his childhood, and nearly died from Lupus sometime in his 20's or 30's and one of his kidneys failed in 1995. My Mom stepped in at the time and gave him one of her kidneys which lasted 8 years. After that kidney failed he despite some difficulties was able to take care of himself albeit with some assistance but after a nasty infection and drug interaction in 2008 his condition slowly deteriorated to the point where my Mom and I had to help take care of him. He wasn't strong enough to go through another transplant so that was out and after years of suffering his body finally gave out on March 13th, 2012. My Dad has been there for me since I could remember, no matter how sick he was and how much he suffered he always thought of me, my brother and my mom and I am glad that I could be there for him in the last few years of his life.

While Applejack's younger sister Applebloom unlike my father was is actually healthy the fact that she along with her older brother Big Macintosh and Granny Smith had to all help take care of her still reminds me of my mom and I banding together to take care of my dad and to me is a sad but also very inspiring story. The fact that Applejack was able to go through something like that which would destroy so many and come out of it stronger to me shows a lesson that is important for everyone and it is that even when times are tough that hope can still burn bright.