Life Writing: Life as Usual

Now, the way I hear it told, for me everything began sometime in the summer of 1966.  A young couple in rural woods of Oklahoma found that they were going to have a new addition to their family.  The doctor said to expect this new family member sometime around March 23 of next year.  So in order to pass the time, R and D went about life as usual - though they could hardly wait.

Somewhere in the rural woods.

At this time, the green house on the hill by the road was home to them and the two rambunctious members of the family- 3 year old A and 1 year old T.  Grandpa G and Grandma E lived just a mile or so up the road and across the creek on the old homestead land.  Grandpa and Grandma H lived on the south side of town on Memorial Road.  Various other family members- aunts, uncles, cousins, great-grandparents, and in-laws- were located in the vicinity as well.  

As summer began to wind down, A’s 4th birthday came and went.  Autumn was in full swing when T’s 2nd birthday came and went.  Thanksgiving soon flew by and Christmas was just around the corner.  R took a job working on off-shore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast.  It was still life as usual.  

Winter ushered in Christmas and the New Year.  R celebrated his birthday.  Then, unexpectedly, almost a week later, D started experiencing contractions.  A quick trip to the doctor to make sure everything was all right was in order and then it would be back to life as usual.  So, off she went.  Soon, R was notified that D was in labor and should probably try to come home.  She spent 24 hours in uncomfortable but not highly painful labor.  He made it back to Broken Bow in record time.

Then, at 10:05 AM on a Wednesday, I breathed my first independent breath.  I was a fuzzy red bundle weighing in at a whopping 5 lbs and 2 oz while measuring 19 ½ inches long.  I was a little more than seven weeks early but overall, I was in great health.  There appeared to be a minor issue with my left eye as it was swollen shut.  And, with that being the worst, the doctor sent me home with my experienced Mom after only a couple of days at the hospital.

I was honored with a given name that means maiden. My middle name means, well, faith.  You know, the theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will.  It also is defined as confident belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing thereby producing trust, loyalty and allegiance.  I am aware there is power in what you name a child.  You may not realize it at the time but it will make a difference in their life.  Mom decided as a little girl that if she ever had a little girl, her name would be Faith and so it was.  And, then, there was a certain song which provided my given name.  I refuse to share it here.

There was joy and celebration everywhere (music begins…).  The world was singing my song (music swells…).  My birth was announced from the highest rooftops and proclaimed throughout the lands (music crescendo…).  It would never again be “life as usual” (music crash).  Okay, so it wasn’t really such a big deal after all and life did go on as usual; but, I am telling or, um, re-telling this story.