If you had to write down in one hour the amount of life changing events that have taken place, would you be able to count them on one hand or need a calculator? I have had several events take place over the last 42 years and each has been for the better and a few for the worse. The first event happened in the summer of 1971 when I met my mother's oldest brother and his wife. My Uncle Ted and Aunt Lois were from California and at that time lived in San Jose (Northern California). They decided to visit the family and my uncle to see his dad (my grandfather). During their visit, we all went over to grandpa's house and did the normal family reunion type things. My aunt and uncle decided that they were going to be visiting for about 2 weeks and then head back home.
During this period of time we still lived in "The Village" which is an area of Oklahoma City. Some people would call it the ghetto or the projects, but we called it home.
I remember there was a day that I seen my mother and her brother talking very loudly with each other away from the family. It made me feel upset to see this guy making my mom mad, so I started to dislike him. That same night at dinner, my aunt Lois asked if I knew where California was. Being the age of 4, I thought it was another city around the city we lived in. She asked if I would like to go to California with her and my uncle. At the same time, my two older brothers knew that my uncle had mentioned to mom that he would like to talk all 3 boys with him to California, just to give my mom a break for a while. My brothers did not want to go at all, but they kept telling me that I should go with them because it would be a lot of fun.
So after a few more days, they packed up my clothes and the few toys that I had and I jumped in the car with my aunt and uncle. Being so young, I really did not have a concept of the amount of time that went by before we made it to their house in San Jose. It took 3 days to get to California, and even then I was amazed to see all of the differences in the landscapes that we drove through. I slept a lot, but I did see some sights I never knew were possible, at the time.
We arrived in San Jose, California on a Sunday afternoon. The house was in a very nice area of the city. The street ran north and south, and the house on the east side of the street. The driveway was on the right side of the property and went all the way into the backyard and then curved to the left. There was a large tree in the backyard with a dog pen around it. In the pen was a rather large German Sheppard named Sport. He was a retired police dog that my uncle received from a friend that was with the police department. To the right of the door pen was the garage. The garage was not attached to the house like modern houses. The house was a single story home with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room and kitchen. On the east wall of the living room there was a really nice brick fireplace.
I was told that I was going to meet a lot of my aunt's family member in the next few days. My aunt had a large family because she was 1 of 13 kids in her family. Each of her brothers/sisters had their own kids and grandkids as well. Her father and mother lived across town and were elderly. As I think back to her parents, they were the most gentle, kind, loving and supportive people I have ever known.
After a few days had gone by and I met all of the family in California, I asked my aunt, what time we would be going home. She wasn't sure what I was talking about, so she said that we are home, and that this was my new home. I didn't understand at the time, so i asked if my mom and brothers/sisters were coming here too. She said that they were not coming and that we were not going back to Oklahoma. I was so afraid and started crying a lot. My uncle came into my room and told me that I need to stop all of the crying and just realize that I would not be going home because this is my new home and that is that.
After a few weeks, I started to school in San Jose. Only 5 years old, short, skinny and afraid. I came home from school on the first day with a note pinned to my shirt that seemed to be just as big as I was at the time. One day down, several years to go. This lonely "Okie" going to school with kids that didn't talk the same as I did at the time. I was so afraid to be there without my family from Oklahoma. Who would protect me, hold me when I was afraid, patch me up when I got hurt...it was a scary time for me. But one special lady stepped up and made a major difference in my life.
As I look back in time, I know that was the initial life changing event for me. You know how people say that if they had the chance to go back in time and change one event in their life, they would change something major. Well, I have so many events that have led me to where I am now, that I would be afraid to change any event. For example, if I would have changed the event of me coming to California, I would not know any of the people I currently know. I would not have the two sons that I have right now, or even know the dearest friends that I know and love today. (Phillip, Jimmy, Scott, Rudy, Marianne, Susan, Tameka, Juanita, Harriet) So far this first life event, I would have to keep, because I never want to lose these people.
