 I was born to Harriet Catherine and John Mathias Green, just outside of Chicago, IL. It must have been a stormy day when I entered the world, either that or the most brilliantly sunshiny day! I say that because I am an extremely high energy person. I hate sitting still and become bored when I stay too long in any one place doing anything. My talents are best used when I am trying to accomplish many things, all at one time. They then moved me to a one horse town in the center of my Universe, Salem, IL. I resided there all through my young adult years. I had a great childhood, thanks to a hardworking mother, a father who mainly had time for himself, a willllllllllllllld older sister, and the studious and glowing middle sister. My father was an on the go kind of guy. Quite into himself and his hobbies: guns, hunting, fishing, walking in the woods, and was the best cabinet maker in the area. In his own way, he was stingy with his earnings, but he always had the money for a Barbie Doll whenever I asked. He and my mother took me to one movie together, Old Yeller, because I was very industrious and helpful for one day in my entire existence at home. I always wanted involved, but I wanted to do whatever got me in the way more than anything else. My father had the gift for gab. I guess that is where I got it. I used to watch him at the gun range when he was trapshooting. He was Johnny Green, a good ole boy. He had many trophies. He and mom never seemed to do anything together. He worked and played, while mom worked and worked. My mom, is the woman I always wished that I could measure up to in life. She was a beautiful movie star as a young woman, at least that is how I saw her. She always tried to do everyone right. She taught me to believe in God, and that we were all God’s children. She treated every person the same, regardless of race, culture, or sex. She was a high energy person, too. Her talents are too vast to mention. She knows all of the womanly crafts: cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, canning, and so on and so on and so on. That isn’t all though...she played softball until she was older than I am now (I’m not telling). She worked a job, kept a house, took care of finances, raised three girls, kept food of all kinds in the house, raised my father’s family before and after we girls, and still yet to this day makes crocheted pixies that my oldest sister steals, when ever given a chance. My oldest sister, Carol, never was afraid to experience life, not even a day of it. She is the oldest, and the most likely to remember every stinking special event in the family. I think that she even reminds me of my up and coming birthdays. She has always been my second mother, but has always believed that my mother had her, and she had me. She has always been there for me to protect and serve, plus to make sure that my every given whim has been answered, (Thank-you Sis!). She is my friend, gave me a big heart and a soft spirit. She taught me about make-up and perfume. She taught me that family is everything. She listens and directs me. She tooters me on the computer, and has spent endless hours helping me straighten out messes and fix things (on the computer and in the financial arena). She is directive, but caring! My middle sister Doris, was my bedroom partner, for years...even while I was still wetting the bed, for yearrrrs, (Thanks Sissy). I believe that she probably got the brunt of all the work I skipped out on at home. She taught me to swim and skate, and I admired her athletic skills. She was studious, had a beautiful voice, strove for excellence, and she still does yet to this day! She was the first to strive for academic excellence, behind my mother. She was in the army. She is a Lab Technician, and is knowledgeable about computers to boot. Her pursuance of the computer field was in the footsteps of her one, and only love, Francis Lee Garrison (Our beloved brother). We all love him as our own! She gave me the courage to believe in myself, and possibilities. She remains a source of encouragement to go forward. She believes in me. We three sister, are and will be forever close , and thank our mom for the gift of each other, and the best mom God could have ever created! We thank dad for being the donor, and in his later years, a very attentive and doting father. The question of who I am is many faceted. I am an equal combination of all of these three beautiful women, and a very handsome man. I am a woman now, with two beautiful girls of my own, (and some day they will be grown too). I am a grandmother of three beautiful granddaughters. I am an Aunt to two nieces and the only nephew or boy born to our family, thus far. I am a single parent mom, an accomplished Mental Health Therapist, Social Worker, M.S.W., and a grandmother. More than any other descriptor, I like my oldest sister’s the best: I have the Peter Pan Syndrome, and I’ll never grow up! I like hip hop music, dancing, and hanging with youth. I have had or made more days happy than sad, for myself. I love life, and all that it encompasses. I have never had a negative event that I did not grow and improve from the experience. I love who I am, and I owe it to my family....
To
All of You, family...
Much Love Sissy! |
