Reflections
It's another snowy day. It came earlier this year than usual. I remember my mom telling that the year that Sharon and Dwight Bright were born that there came a big snow in October 1961. Tree branches broke under the weight of the snow, ect. I am now sitting at home, this morning I watched as my husband dig his way out. I had a flashback to December 2009 when he was digging his way out to get me to work. I was glad I didn't have to go out, but also a little sad. I used to think of getting out as an adventure. My mom and I would get in the Subaru and head to WJLS, or my dad would drop me off in his truck on the way to work and then when Matt and I worked mornings we braved the snow. Many mornings it would be us and the snow plow. We always saw it as a challenge. I was proud that I never missed work during a storm. Once Matt walked up there to clean the ice and snow off of the satellite dishes so we could get programming. I had learned when the snow was deep, to take another pair of pants to change into, as well as socks and shoes, because walking through all of that snow you would be soaked. Now I sat at home, kind of grateful about that, but it makes me sad too, that none of that was appreciated. Their loss though. I am warm and confortable and loving life. This is a time of reflections.
On October 29, 1989, it was a crazy day. I dressed up in a custome and went to tailgate Halloween, sponsered by the youth Museam of Southern West Virginia. Back then it was held at New River Park. Earlier that morning, my mom and I had went to the hospital to see Sharon. She was there because her water had broke on the Friday, but the baby hadn't come yet. A few days earlier a car had crashed into their house. She said that she couldn't sleep and she had gotten up to take a shower. She was about six or seven months pregnant at the time. The car crashed into the side of the house, while she was in the shower. I don't remember all of the details, but she was very upset, and that is what started the labor. That Saturday, we went to the hospital and her doctor said that they may have to induce labor, if she didn't go into labor. She told us how hard it would be on the baby and all, so I came home prayed and got dressed in a Pirate Queen outfit and went to tailgate Halloween, from there I went to work. I had to work the night shift on the air. I had to stay there until the World Series game was over, because we had a new person across the hall and they wanted someone there that would know what to do if something went wrong.
I got a call about 8:00 PM that Sharon was in labor. I mentioned it on the air, because I was on the air with my program "The Inspirational Hour". I know that people prayed. I was expecting it to be quicker than it was. There were no cell phones back then so I just had to wait until my mom called again. When she didn't I just waited. My dad was going to pick me up when he got off from work. When he came the game wasn't finished, so he went home and I called him when it was over and we went to the hospital and waited. The waiting room is unconfortable, there I was in my custume and my dad made a comment about it and my mom told him it was a costume. It was about two o'clock EDT and 1 AM EST when they came and said that Sharon had the baby. It was a little girl weighing in at 4lbs and 10oz. They bought the baby out and she was a light skinned little thing. The thing I remember the most was those big brown eyes looking around. There was some curiousity about what the baby would look like from other family members. They wanted to know if the child was albino like me and Sharon, or what. So the next day everybody and their brother from both sides of the family came to the hospital came. Since the baby was a premie she was in the NIC unit and they had her on oxygen. I didn't see that big eyed little girl for several days, because of all the family that just had to see what she looked like. They decided to call her Ri'hanna Leigh. I don't know where the name Ri'hanna came from, I think it is an African name. Leigh came from my mom whose name was Letha.
They didn't have clothes for premies back then, you had to go and get clothes that the Cabbage Patch dolls wore, so me and my mom went to the toy store to get some Cabbage Patch outfits for the baby. Sharon was able to bring her home later on that week, she reached five pounds. My mom called me at work and we went to Sharon and go to the hospital to get the baby. First we all had to take an infant CPR class and then they let her bring Ri'Hanna home. I remember the song playing on the radio was "He'll Do it Again" by Karen Wheaton. It was a sign that God was able to take care of any situation. Some people can't tell me and Sharon apart, when Ri'hanna saw me again, she did a double take, she looked from on to the other as if she couldn't figure out what was going on.
Ri'Hanna was the first grandchild so of course she was spoiled. It was a bittersweet time for me as I watched Sharon and her husband have this child. I wanted to be married and have a child. I had collected childrens story books. When I got my house I had a picture of children sitting on the couch on an Easter Sunday dressed up for church. I had names picked out and everything. At that time all I have was an uncertain career. They had been talking about switching formats at the radio station. Finally I gave Sharon all of those books and things I had collected over the years and I kept some of them because I knew at some point I would be babysitting. My mom used to pick me up from work with Ri'hanna in the car. I used to keep Ri'Hanna entertained by dancing and goofing off. She loved that. I would sing to her and make up songs. When she got older she stayed here on weekends. I had a growth chart by the kitchen door. I took Ri'hnnna to Sunday School for the first time when she was almost three. I wittnessed many firsts with her.
Kids grow up and sometimes grow away. This is the hurting part about being an aunt. She won't hardly give me the time of day now. I guess it is because I want so much for her and I know she doesn't have to settle for the all of the things that the world entices young people. She is a bright smart young lady and I know that she will get it together. I remember the day she was born I heard a song by Steve Green Find Us Faithful.
We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives
CHORUS:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find
REPEAT CHORUS
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
We had this little girl born in our family and I wanted her to know that someone would always be there for her and love her. May all those who come behind us find us faithful.
On October 29, 1989, it was a crazy day. I dressed up in a custome and went to tailgate Halloween, sponsered by the youth Museam of Southern West Virginia. Back then it was held at New River Park. Earlier that morning, my mom and I had went to the hospital to see Sharon. She was there because her water had broke on the Friday, but the baby hadn't come yet. A few days earlier a car had crashed into their house. She said that she couldn't sleep and she had gotten up to take a shower. She was about six or seven months pregnant at the time. The car crashed into the side of the house, while she was in the shower. I don't remember all of the details, but she was very upset, and that is what started the labor. That Saturday, we went to the hospital and her doctor said that they may have to induce labor, if she didn't go into labor. She told us how hard it would be on the baby and all, so I came home prayed and got dressed in a Pirate Queen outfit and went to tailgate Halloween, from there I went to work. I had to work the night shift on the air. I had to stay there until the World Series game was over, because we had a new person across the hall and they wanted someone there that would know what to do if something went wrong.
I got a call about 8:00 PM that Sharon was in labor. I mentioned it on the air, because I was on the air with my program "The Inspirational Hour". I know that people prayed. I was expecting it to be quicker than it was. There were no cell phones back then so I just had to wait until my mom called again. When she didn't I just waited. My dad was going to pick me up when he got off from work. When he came the game wasn't finished, so he went home and I called him when it was over and we went to the hospital and waited. The waiting room is unconfortable, there I was in my custume and my dad made a comment about it and my mom told him it was a costume. It was about two o'clock EDT and 1 AM EST when they came and said that Sharon had the baby. It was a little girl weighing in at 4lbs and 10oz. They bought the baby out and she was a light skinned little thing. The thing I remember the most was those big brown eyes looking around. There was some curiousity about what the baby would look like from other family members. They wanted to know if the child was albino like me and Sharon, or what. So the next day everybody and their brother from both sides of the family came to the hospital came. Since the baby was a premie she was in the NIC unit and they had her on oxygen. I didn't see that big eyed little girl for several days, because of all the family that just had to see what she looked like. They decided to call her Ri'hanna Leigh. I don't know where the name Ri'hanna came from, I think it is an African name. Leigh came from my mom whose name was Letha.
They didn't have clothes for premies back then, you had to go and get clothes that the Cabbage Patch dolls wore, so me and my mom went to the toy store to get some Cabbage Patch outfits for the baby. Sharon was able to bring her home later on that week, she reached five pounds. My mom called me at work and we went to Sharon and go to the hospital to get the baby. First we all had to take an infant CPR class and then they let her bring Ri'Hanna home. I remember the song playing on the radio was "He'll Do it Again" by Karen Wheaton. It was a sign that God was able to take care of any situation. Some people can't tell me and Sharon apart, when Ri'hanna saw me again, she did a double take, she looked from on to the other as if she couldn't figure out what was going on.
Ri'Hanna was the first grandchild so of course she was spoiled. It was a bittersweet time for me as I watched Sharon and her husband have this child. I wanted to be married and have a child. I had collected childrens story books. When I got my house I had a picture of children sitting on the couch on an Easter Sunday dressed up for church. I had names picked out and everything. At that time all I have was an uncertain career. They had been talking about switching formats at the radio station. Finally I gave Sharon all of those books and things I had collected over the years and I kept some of them because I knew at some point I would be babysitting. My mom used to pick me up from work with Ri'hanna in the car. I used to keep Ri'Hanna entertained by dancing and goofing off. She loved that. I would sing to her and make up songs. When she got older she stayed here on weekends. I had a growth chart by the kitchen door. I took Ri'hnnna to Sunday School for the first time when she was almost three. I wittnessed many firsts with her.
Kids grow up and sometimes grow away. This is the hurting part about being an aunt. She won't hardly give me the time of day now. I guess it is because I want so much for her and I know she doesn't have to settle for the all of the things that the world entices young people. She is a bright smart young lady and I know that she will get it together. I remember the day she was born I heard a song by Steve Green Find Us Faithful.
We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives
CHORUS:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find
REPEAT CHORUS
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
We had this little girl born in our family and I wanted her to know that someone would always be there for her and love her. May all those who come behind us find us faithful.
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