“May I Tell You About My Daughters?”
Larry Alan Reeves, Region A Long Term Care Ombudsman
Southwestern Commission- Area Agency on Aging
My daughters are the source of great pride and pleasure in my life. No one else even comes close to competing for my love, devotion, sense of amazement and amusement, awe, wonder, excitement, enthusiasm, anticipation, compassion, passion, unwavering commitment, unlimited forgiveness, and a million other feelings and emotions. No doubt, those of you who are parents/grandparents/step-parents/adoptive-parents/foster-parents/ “God”-parents understand and are able to relate to my expressions of love and appreciation for the two daughters it is my honor to call “my children”. I cannot think of anything that has the potential to change the way I feel about my daughters. I am “in their corners” and available to them as they need and desire. Whatever and whenever literally means “whatever and whenever”.
When the mother of my daughters and I sought to have children she developed a serious health problem during our first pregnancy. She had a rare and unusual complication. The results of the complication were the termination of the pregnancy, a scary emergency surgery, and an extended time of treatment with a prestigious medical center. We figured that we would never be able to parent children. We were considering trying to adopt. But, miracle of miracles, when the treatment period lapsed our first was on the way.
At the end of nine months Rebecca Joye came into the midst of our world. She was named “Rebecca” in honor of my Granny, Vera Rebecca. “Joye” was her middle name, chosen because she was a joy that we did not anticipate having to enrich our lives. The evening of her birth I went to the market, purchase bags of miniature Almond Joys. Instead of cigars I passed out Almond Joy candy bars, adorned with a pink ribbon. The day after her birth I took a phone-book from Knoxville, TN, chose the names of 10 people that I did not know, and placed a call to their listed numbers. When the phone was answered I responded to their “Hello” by saying something like, “I know you do not know me. Before you hang up, may I tell you about my daughter?” If I was given the go ahead, I proceeded to tell them about my “Little Bundle of Joy” that was in the nursery of St. Mary’s Hospital. The response was fascinating. Most offered congratulations, some thanked me for the call and wished us well, and only one accused me of being in a drunken state.
Three years later, Sara Grace came into the world. She was named “Sara” for her grandmother on her mother’s side. We named her “Grace” because we knew she was a special gift from the giver of all life to us, with the responsibility to take good care of her and give her a good start on her journey. It was fun handing out “Bit of Honey” miniature candy bars with accompanying pink ribbons. Instead of calling folks on the phone I approached 10 strangers saying, “May I tell you about my daughter?”
As is the case with many parents, I have lots of stories to tell about my daughters. However, all I will say at this point is that both are gone to their own homes, grown, on their own, and have wonderful spouses (Leejohn and Jeremy) of whom I am very delighted are sharing life with my daughters.
11/24/2015